OSF Saint James - John W. Albrecht Medical Center

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OSF Saint James Recognized as a Quality Leader

Two Groups Applaud Efforts To Improve Care, Share Information
Diligent work in patient care and safety placed OSF Saint James – John W. Albrecht Medical Center in the top 10 percent of 1,069 hospitals nationwide in the 2006 Leapfrog Hospital Quality and Safety Survey. Compliance with Leapfrog’s nationally recognized safety standards and practices demonstrates an ongoing commitment to serving all persons with world-class healthcare.

In addition, OSF Saint James is one of 37 Illinois hospitals that have embraced the concept of publicly reporting efforts to reduce medical errors. A January survey conducted by the Leapfrog Group asked hospitals to report progress in meeting four "leaps" to better patient safety. Those leaps are:

A computerized order entry system to enter patient prescriptions and other orders into computers linked to error prevention software.

Hospital critical care units staffed with critical care specialists.

Patient outcomes related to selected high-risk procedures.

Efforts taken to enact the 30 safe practice recommendations of the National Quality Forum.

"Leapfrog provides an objective assessment of actions that hospitals are taking to become safer," said Carol Wilhoit, MD, medical director, HMO Illinois. "As health plans move towards rewarding performance, objective measures such as Leapfrog become more important."

The Leapfrog Group's mission is to trigger giant leaps forward in the safety, quality and affordability of healthcare. Large private and public sector health benefits purchasers representing more than 36 million enrollees are part of the Leapfrog Group. Members include DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Honeywell Inc., United Parcel Service and the American Federation of Teachers.

At OSF Saint James Medical Center, it is a natural extension of our Mission to share with the public the steps we are taking to improve the quality of care we provide. Open communication and community education is vital to maintaining the public's trust in our care and services.

In January 2005, OSF Saint James was awarded the prestigious Lincoln Silver Award for Progress Towards Excellence. The award is based on the Criteria for Performance Excellence of the Baldridge National Quality Program. OSF Saint James was the only healthcare facility in Illinois to receive a Lincoln Foundation award that year. Organizations awarded at the Silver Progress Towards Excellence level are recognized for demonstrating sound and notable continuous improvement processes. The Lincoln Foundation for Performance Excellence is a not-for-profit organization that assists Illinois organizations to strive for performance excellence by planning and implementing sound management processes. Each year a Lincoln Board of Examiners reviews and assesses award applications in seven areas: leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, information and analysis, human resource focus, process management, and results. The panel of judges determines which applicants, if any, meet their performance targets and will receive recognition.