During a virtual ceremony held November 17th, 2020, the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) recognized Memorial Hospital of Chester for its ongoing commitment to exceptional quality of care. ICAHN, located in Princeton, IL, is a network of 57 small rural Illinois hospitals dedicated to strengthening the operations of its member hospitals through collaboration.
As part of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Program (MBQIP), Memorial Hospital and other critical access hospitals are asked to participate in four defined domains of quality outcomes, which includes: Patient Safety/Inpatient; Patient Engagement; Care Transitions; and Outpatient Measures.
Memorial Hospital’s Environment of Care and Patient Safety Committees meet monthly to work on maintaining and executing top performance in the four domains of quality outcomes laid out by MBQIP. Directors and managers representing departments throughout the hospital and rural health clinics hold active roles on these committees. Each month members review areas that need attention and provide input for improvement. Employees are encouraged to consult their immediate supervisor with questions regarding employee or patient safety. This makes safety and quality of care everyone’s responsibility at Memorial Hospital. Ideas and suggestions for improving safety programs are always welcome. “It takes a team effort from all departments to ensure service excellence,” stated Hospital CEO, Brett Bollmann. “We have worked hard over the past few years to improve the patient experience and have plans for more improvements as we move forward!” Safety programs, equipment, and articles are shared with hospital staff quarterly through the Committees’ “Safety Matters” newsletter.
Memorial Hospital was honored for being a top performer in all four domains and also for gaining a ‘5-Star’ rating in HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey) scores. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created the HCAHPS Star Ratings to allow consumers to more quickly and easily access the patient experience of care information on the Hospital Compare website.
“This hospital realizes how important quality of care and an engaged staff is for its patients…From its top leadership throughout the facility, each strives for continued quality on a daily basis, and that is what we are celebrating today,” said Laura Fischer, ICAHN Flex Coordinator.
As Memorial Hospital continues to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, the Environment of Care and Patient Safety Committees commend all staff throughout the organization for their willingness to remain vigilant in infection control and prevention practices for the patients, coworkers, visitors, and community. The day to day safety and infection prevention practices by each and every staff person demonstrates their dedication to healthcare, public health, and the culture of safety embraced at Memorial Hospital.