St. Elizabeth Hospital Receives VHA Leadership Award
05/03/2007
VHA Inc, a national health care alliance based in
Irving, Texas,
has recognized St. Elizabeth Hospital for excellence in cardiac care. St. Elizabeth
Hospital was one of 98 VHA member
hospitals nationwide to receive the 2007 Leadership Award for excellence in
treating congestive heart failure.
President and CEO, Dee LeJeune, will received the award at VHA’s
Leadership Conference in Denver, Colorado, on May 20, 2007.
“This award validates the dedicated focus of our clinical
staff and physicians to provide excellent care to our cardiac patients,” said
Craig Vitrano, MD, St. Elizabeth Hospital Vice President of Medical Affairs and
Strategy. “At the heart of the
covenant between patients and hospitals lies the belief that clinical excellence
in paramount,” said Trent Haywood, M.D., J.D., chief medical officer at
VHA. “St. Elizabeth
Hospital is a shining example of what can
be achieved when a hospital’s actions are guided by the pursuit of clinical
excellence.”
The VHA Leadership Award for Clinical
Excellence in cardiac care is based on the latest set of measures that has been
nationally accepted as indicators of quality. “Our participation in VHA helps us
achieve a higher level of performance both operationally and clinically, and we
are pleased to receive recognition from VHA for our work with patients with
congestive heart failure,” said
LeJeune.
The best practice standards for treating congestive heart
failure include:
• ACE inhibitors or beta blocker administration for left
ventricular systolic dysfunction
• Detailed discharge instructions provided to
patients
• Left
ventricular function assessment performed on
patients
• Adult smoking cessation advice and counseling provided
to patients prior to discharge.
St. Elizabeth Hospital achieved at least a 90 percent
compliance with all rate-based indicators to qualify for the
award.
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