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April 30, 2007
Marquette General Home Health & Hospice Receives 2006 Michigan Award of Excellence
MPRO Award Honors Commitment to Improve Care in the Home Health Setting
Marquette General Home Health & Hospice has received the Michigan Award of Excellence for Improving Care in the Home Health Setting. The annual award is presented by MPRO, Michigan’s Quality Improvement Organization.
The award focuses on working to improve the quality and safety of care in such areas as decreasing acute care hospitalizations; improving the management of oral medications; improving the implementation of telehealth technology; and improving screenings for flu and pneumonia immunizations.
The four offices of Marquette General Home Health & Hospice were honored with the 2006 Michigan Award of Excellence by MPRO. Pictured with the award, left to right, are Escanaba Branch Manager Amy Wilson, Menominee Branch Manager Judy Bramschreiber, Kingsford Branch Manager Linda Hayes, MGHH&H Program Director Karen Erickson, Operations Manager Craig Chartier of Marquette, and Marquette Branch Manager Deb Hecox.
Marquette General Home Health & Hospice received the 2006 accolade for the area of Decreasing the Acute Hospitalization Rate.
This marks the third year that MPRO has honored home health agencies statewide that are actively engaged in quality improvement initiatives. Recipients of the Michigan Award of Excellence showed notable improvement in quality measures designated as national health care priorities by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
“Marquette General Home Health & Hospice has a multidisciplinary team to spearhead improvement using proven, evidence-based practices to spur better outcomes,” said Karen Erickson, program director for MGHH&H. “We focused on teaching patients and their family members some key self-management techniques and the need to promptly report certain conditions to us or to their primary care physician’s office.”
Early treatment of symptoms can prevent unnecessary hospital stays while managing the illness in the comfort of home with support and evaluation from home care nurses.
According to Erickson, registered nurses focused on patients with chronic illnesses such as congestive heart failure or respiratory disease. Effective wound care controls were also taught with the goal of reducing the risk of infection. Family members were also included in the instruction.
The focus of physical and occupational therapists was to maximize recovery for patients after a major surgery or illness by teaching safe patient transfer techniques and fall prevention exercises.
“As Michigan’s Quality Improvement Organization, MPRO is privileged to recognize home health agencies such as Marquette General Home Health & Hospice, that are embracing quality improvement initiatives,” said Debra Moss, MD, MBA, president and CEO of MPRO.
“The Michigan Award of Excellence is a seal of quality that denotes a commitment to excellence and the delivery of high quality care,” Moss said.
“Our staff works as a team to set targets and develop strategies to accelerate notable improvements in patient care,” said Erickson. “Together, we are demonstrating that Marquette General Home Health & Hospice is continuously working to improve the care we deliver to our patients. Our efforts have been enhanced through our collaborations with MPRO and we are proud to be a recipient of this distinguished honor.”
Marquette General Home Health and Hospice provides services in the central and southern Upper Peninsula and northeastern Wisconsin with offices in Marquette, Escanaba, Kingsford, and Menominee.
To learn more about Marquette General Home Health & Hospice call Marquette General Home Health & Hospice in Marquette at 906-225-3985 or 1-800-562-9753, extension 3985; in Escanaba at 906-789-1305; in Kingsford at 906-779-1844, or Menominee at 906-863-7877.
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