LHA launches 'Champions for Quality Care' program

BATON ROUGE, LA — The Louisiana Hospital Association (LHA) today held a “Champions for Quality Care” program launch in Baton Rouge for its statewide Hospital Engagement Network (HEN), which focuses on improving patient care and reducing healthcare costs in the state. Ninety-three Louisiana hospitals have joined the LHA HEN initiative.

The goal of the HEN is to reduce avoidable patient harm in nine areas by 40 percent and readmissions by 20 percent by December 2013.

“This launch is the largest healthcare quality improvement project in the history of Louisiana,” said John Matessino, LHA President and CEO. “Our focus is on implementing a culture of safety and evidence-based tools to support patient- and family-centered care, and is indicative of Louisiana hospitals’ commitment to quality of care and patient safety.”

The LHA has been awarded a contract, in partnership with The Health Research & Education Trust (HRET), by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to support the Partnership for Patients (PfP) campaign. PfP is a national initiative launched earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

HRET is the largest HEN contract in the country with over 34 hospital associations and 1,600 hospitals participating in its network. There are five HENs operating in Louisiana. The LHA has the largest, with 93 participating hospitals.

“We are excited for our hospitals as they begin this extremely important work,” said LHA Vice President of Quality & Regulatory Activities Ken Alexander. “Providing quality care is a top priority for all hospitals, as they incorporate best practices and scientifically-proven methods to provide the best care possible for every patient.”

Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein joined Cynosure Corporation CEO Bruce Spurlock, Dr. Michael Rosen from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Dr. Frank Opelka from LSU Health Sciences Center at today’s launch to discuss why this program is so important and why a change in culture is necessary.

“Just as every individual should own their own health, healthcare providers must take ownership of their quality improvement strategy,” said Secretary Greenstein. “I commend the LHA and its participating members for focusing on these initiatives to improve patient safety and lower costs for Louisiana residents.”

Over the coming months, best practices will be shared with participating hospitals to improve quality in the initiative’s 10 targeted areas:

1. Adverse drug events (ADE)

2. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)

3. Central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSI)

4. Injuries from falls and immobility

5. Obstetrical adverse events

6. Pressure ulcers

7. Surgical site infections

8. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) or deep vein clots

9. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)

10. Preventable readmissions

“Every patient is important, and it is crucial that our hospitals continue to receive the most current tools, resources and expertise so they can provide the safest, highest quality care,” said Matessino.

For more information on the HEN, visit www.healthcare.gov/compare/partnership-for-patients [1] or www.hret.org [2].