Quality

What's In a Score?

Government agencies, patient safety organizations and other grassroots groups are utilizing published data and scores more often than ever to inform
the public about hospitals and how they compare.

Part of the confusion that sometimes results from the various interpretations is the fact that the methods used to evaluate and determine scores are layered and complex, with very diverse "common denominators". Due to size of a facility, level of care offered, and other factors, it's often difficult to find a balanced way to compare all hospitals, across the board.

Although scoring methods are diverse, the Standards of Care that comprise the scores are focused on providing the best care possible and are common among all hospitals. At HRMC, we take these Standards of Care very seriously. We consistently revisit and evaluate our practices to ensure that we're using the best methods of care-those that are proven to support quality care and patient safety.

In terms of patients with Pneumonia, Congestive Heart Failure, Acute Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack) and those undergoing surgical procedures, healthcare research has shown that there are certain Standards of Care measures that, when taken for each of these conditions, support better healing and prevention of illness. The patient care team at HRMC continuously monitors performance of these measures and seeks to improve processes to ensure success.

Examples of some of the Standards of Care measures that support better healing and prevention of illness:

Pneumonia

• Obtaining blood samples before giving an antibiotic
• Giving the patient antibiotics in a timely manner

Congestive Heart Failure

• Providing thorough discharge instructions specific to CHF
• Evaluating the patient's heart function
• Prescribing preventative medications

Heart Attack-AMI

• Giving the patient aspirin on arrival and discharge
• Prescribing preventative medications Surgical Care Improvement Project
• Giving the patient antibiotics in a timely manner to prevent post-operative infection
• Stopping the preventative antibiotic as soon as possible
• Ensuring the patient-s blood sugar is controlled after surgery
• Removing the urinary catheter as soon as possible after surgery
• Managing the patient's temperature well throughout the procedure
• Providing the patient with medication or other techniques to prevent blood clots after surgery

HRMC's achieved percentage of all Standards of Care measures for all four conditions listed above has been excellent and continues to rise. In 2010, we achieved 97.69%; in 2011, we achieved 98.31%; in 2012, through October, we have achieved 99.48%; and, specifically, since March 2012, we have achieved 100%.

We continuously strive to keep our performance in the top 25% of all hospitals, nationally, and offer the best and safest care to our patients. We will continue to highlight and explain additional scores and measures in future issues of our Healthier Living newsletter.