VHA Georgia members contribute to success of VHA’s 2014 Hospital Engagement Network program

In 2014, the Partnership for Patients (PfP) initiative had the goal of reducing preventable harm by 40 percent and readmissions by 20 percent. The results have shown that VHA Hospital Engagement Network (HEN) hospitals met and even exceeded those goals in 10 out of the 11 Areas of Focus. They include: Adverse Drug Events (ADE); Injuries from Falls and Immobility (Falls); Pressure Ulcers (PRU); Venous Thromboembolism (VTE); Readmissions; Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI); Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infections (CLABSI); Surgical Site Infections (SSI); Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP), and Obstetrical Adverse Events (ODE), including Early Elective Deliveries (EED). Significant cost savings to HCOs and CMS were realized. VHA’s HEN hospitals were able to achieve a total of $178,564,924 in cost savings to CMS, with a total HEN cost savings to the PfP initiative overall of $184,955,398. By meeting their goals, a total of $10,820,649 was awarded to VHA by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) for participation in the Partnership for Patients Initiative.

To recognize members that demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the Partnership for Patients initiative by reporting data at the highest level across the Areas of Focus mentioned above, many received quarterly awards. The Platinum Award for Outstanding Commitment was awarded to those members that produced outcomes data in all of the 11 PfP Areas of Focus. The Gold Award for Outstanding Commitment to the PfP was awarded to those members that provided outcomes in 9 or 10 PfP Areas of Focus or Critical Access Hospitals that provided data in all Areas of Focus for which services are provided. Further, VHA recognized other members for being a Top Performer in three or more Areas of Focus and also by a specific Areas of Focus.

VHA Georgia HEN members were recognized for achieving success in all of these areas. They include: Archbold Medical Center, Inc. (Brooks County, Grady General, John D. Archbold Memorial and Mitchell County hospitals), Athens Regional Health System, Mayo Clinic Health System in Waycross, Northeast Georgia Health System and Northside Hospital (Atlanta, Cherokee and Forsyth). Additionally, Athens Regional Health System and Grady General Hospital were featured as VHA HEN success stories to CMS.

Three VHA Georgia members also served as mentors. They included Athens Regional Health System for reducing Surgical Site Infections (SSI), John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital for reducing Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP), and Northeast Georgia Health System for reducing Adverse Drug Events (ADE). As a further honor, Dr. James L. Moore, Senior VP and Chief Medical Officer of Athens Regional Health System and Karen Watts, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Vice President of Patient Care Services of Northeast Georgia Health System were also asked to serve as advisors. Finally, Athens and Archbold were both VHA leading practices blueprinted for their sustained successes in their respective focus areas.

In 2015, members will be able to participate in a Clinical Focus program. It is designed to continue and improve upon the work started through the PfP initiative. Categories in this program include the Patient Safety and Quality Initiative (PSQI) and the Safe Patient Care

Network (SPCN). At no charge to VHA members, PSQI provides resources to members who want to access the latest leading practices, resources and subject matter experts to assist in their improvement work. SPCN is designed to provide more detailed guidance to help VHA member hospitals improve patient safety, also providing members an opportunity to receive additional resources.

Also continuing the HEN work will be the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare. Open to all members of VHA Georgia, this program will be called HEN 2.0 and will build upon the success of the two previous years. More details will be available soon.

For more information, contact us with questions at 770.850.7400 or vhagainfo@vhageorgia.com.