THA Issues Call for 2012 Awards of Excellence

Posted on February 17, 2012

THA has issued a call for nominations for its 2012 Awards of Excellence. Each year, THA conducts an awards recognition program to honor individuals and organizations that have contributed toward the goals of the association or one or more of its institutional members. Awards are presented in five categories: distinguished service, community service, meritorious service, nurse of distinction and healthcare hero. Within the community and meritorious service categories, awards are presented to the following: volunteer organization, print/broadcast media, chief executive officer, senior executive, department head, governance, medical staff and individual volunteer.

This awards program is an excellent opportunity to honor individuals at hospitals and health systems for their hard work, dedication and commitment to health care and the hospital or health system. It also is a great opportunity to recognize board members and volunteers for their service to the hospital or system. In addition, it is a chance for THA members to recognize media organizations in their communities--daily and nondaily newspapers, radio and television stations--for their willingness to tell the hospital story, promote healthcare programs and services, and provide fair news coverage on healthcare issues.

The deadline to submit nominations is May 25--nominations must be received on or before that date. Questions should be directed to Beth Atwood at THA, 615-256-8240, batwood@tha.com.

Tennessee Collaborative Reported in National Journal

Posted on January 30, 2012

A new study based on data from the Tennessee surgical quality collaborative (TSQC) recently published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found Tennessee hospitals participating in the Tennessee regional collaborative of the American College of Surgeon’s National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®) achieved substantial improvements in surgical outcomes, such as reducing the rates of acute renal failure and surgical site infections.

The collaborative also saved $2.2 million per 10,000 general and vascular surgery cases when comparing results from 2010 with results from 2009. ACS NSQIP is the leading nationally validated, risk-adjusted, outcomes-based program to measure and improve the quality of surgical care in the private sector.

The TSQC collected ACS NSQIP data from 10 participating hospitals to examine and identify trends in surgical outcomes and evaluate best practices among these hospitals. The study evaluated 20 categories of postoperative complications, 30-day mortality rates, and hospital costs associated with postoperative complications in a total of 14,205 surgical cases in 2009 and 14,901 surgical cases in 2010.

“We demonstrated that hospitals in a collaborative can greatly improve their quality by sharing data, comparing results, and evaluating best practices and process improvement approaches with their peers,” said Joseph B. Cofer, MD. Cofer is the statewide surgeon champion for the collaborative, author of the study and professor of surgery and surgery residency program director, Department of Surgery, at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine-Chattanooga.

The Tennessee collaborative saw improvements in post-surgical complications such as acute renal failure (25.1% reduction, P = 0.023), graft/prosthesis/flap failure (60.5% reduction, P < 0.0001), ventilator greater than 48 hours (14.7% reduction, P = 0.012), superficial site infection (18.9% reduction P = 0.0005), and wound disruption (34.3% reduction, P = 0.011), according to the researchers. These improvements led to a net savings of nearly $2.2 million per 10,000 general and vascular procedures, according to the study. As ACS NSQIP collects only a sample of cases done, the implications for total costs avoided are much greater. It is estimated that 10,000 cases represents only about one fourth of the total general and vascular surgery cases done in the TSQC hospitals in 2009 and 2010. If the ACS NSQIP methodology were applied to all cases, the total costs avoided might be more than $8 million when comparing the results from 2010 with those from 2009.

According to the researchers, improvements in areas such as skin and soft tissue/wound disruption and ventilator management may be credited to the identification of a problem and rapid change in practice based upon evidence-based medicine. Improvements in renal and graft failure may be attributed to overall attention being focused on a problem that was uncovered through involvement in ACS NSQIP.

As the health care system seeks to find ways to reduce costs, many hospitals and healthcare professionals are organizing into collaboratives to work together to share best practices. The TSQC was formed in 2008 and is led by the Tennessee Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (TnACS) and the Tennessee Hospital Association with funding from the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation. THA’s Center for Patient Safety serves as the coordinator of the collaborative.

The TSQC consists of Erlanger Health System, Chattanooga; Vanderbilt University Hospital, Nashville; St. Francis Hospital, Memphis; Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis; Cookeville Regional Medical Center; Jackson-Madison County General Hospital; Johnson City Medical Center; Methodist University Hospital, Memphis; Parkwest Medical Center, Knoxville; and the University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville.

For additional information about the collaborative, contact Chris Clarke at THA, 615-401-7437, cclarke@tha.com.

Hospitals Urged to Sign Up for THA HEN Program

Posted on January 10, 2012

THA is one of 26 national entities selected to be a hospital engagement network (HEN) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The HEN program supports the Partnership for Patients goals of reducing hospital-acquired conditions by 40 percent and hospital readmissions by 20 percent over three years. The program is a performance-based contract and requires the HEN to focus on culture, leadership and the following 10 priority topics:

• Adverse drug events (ADE)
• Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)
• Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)
• Injuries from falls and immobility
• Obstetrical adverse events
• Pressure ulcers
• Surgical-site infections (SSI)
• Venous thromboembolism (VTE)
• Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)
• Preventable readmissions

In Tennessee, 71 hospitals signed participation forms as part of the THA application. Any Tennessee hospitals that have not yet signed up with THA are welcome to join. To participate in this initiative or for more information about the program, contact Patrice Mayo at THA, 615-256-8240, pmayo@tha.com. 

Patient Safety Partners Have Access to IHI Open School Curriculum

The Tennessee Center for Patient Safety (TCPS) will be providing free access to the IHI open school curriculum to the center’s safety partners for one year, effective Jan. 1, 2012. This benefit is available to all staff and trustees at the center’s partner hospitals.

The IHI open school is an online quality and safety curriculum offering a range of courses in the areas of quality improvement, patient safety, patient- and family-centered care, managing healthcare operations and leadership. This valuable resource is being made available to best equip Tennessee hospitals with the tools and education necessary to improve the quality of care they provide. 

The curriculum offers 17 courses developed by expert faculty. Courses are self-paced and consist of several lessons taking 15-30 minutes each. Users may select and complete as few or as many courses in which they are interested and have the option of earning certification or continuing education credit free of charge. Over 22 contact hours are available for CME, CEU and ACPE credit. 

The entire course listing may be viewed at www.ihi.org/lms/onlinelearning.aspx and registration information is available here. For additional information, contact Angela O'Neal at THA, 615-256-8240, aoneal@tha.com.  

BlueCross Ads Feature Partnership with Tennessee Center for Patient Safety

Posted on January 10, 2012

Beginning January 9, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee will run television, print and online advertising featuring its partnership with the Tennessee Center for Patient Safety.

THA worked closely with Blue Cross and provided input into these ads, which publicize the partnership and the great work being done to eliminate hospital-acquired conditions. The ads focus on the teamwork approach across all hospital disciplines that the Center for Patient Safety encourages and fosters. Blue Cross filmed the campaign at the Regional Medical Center of Memphis.

The television ads will be seen mostly during prime time and news programming, as well as public television throughout 2012. Blue Cross will continue to feature the Tennessee Center for Patient Safety in its NPR sponsorship mentions. Print ads will be placed in healthy living publications and medical news across the state. Online efforts include banner ads on local news web sites and a 15-second version of the television spot will be targeted to web sites (news and entertainment) that provide video content. A paid search campaign also will launch around key words related to hospital infections and patient safety to ensure that positive information is available. Call to action for television, online and search advertising will direct people to a special page within www.bcbst.com that will feature more detailed information. 

Tennessee Hospital Association Receives Award to Improve Patient Safety

Posted on December 15, 2011

BALTIMORE, MD. Dec. 15, 2011—The Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) is one of 26 organizations with new resources and support to help hospitals make health care safer and less costly by targeting and reducing preventable injuries and complications from hospital-acquired conditions.

As a part of the Partnership for Patients initiative, a nationwide public-private collaboration to improve the quality, safety and affordability of health care for all Americans, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced $218 million will go to 26 state, regional, national or hospital system organizations – including $2.3 million to THA. As hospital engagement networks (HENs), these organizations will help identify ways to reduce hospital-acquired conditions, and work to spread them to other hospitals and healthcare providers.

“Winning a hospital engagement network contract is just one more step toward assuring Tennessee patients will be taken care of in the safest possible environment,” said Craig A. Becker, THA president and chief executive officer. “Working with our other partners, the quality improvement organization and the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, THA is committed to achieving zero preventable harm in the hospitals of our state.”

The Partnership for Patients brings together leaders of major hospitals, employers, physicians, nurses and patient advocates, along with state and federal governments, in a shared effort to make hospital care safer, more reliable and less costly. The HENs are a key part of that initiative, and will be funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center, which was established by the Affordable Care Act.

The HENs will work to develop learning collaboratives for hospitals and provide a wide array of initiatives and activities to improve patient safety. They will be required to conduct intensive training programs to teach and support hospitals in making patient care safer, provide technical assistance to hospitals so that hospitals can achieve quality measurement goals, and establish and implement a system to track and monitor hospital progress in meeting quality improvement goals. The activities of the HENs will be closely monitored by CMS to ensure they are improving patient safety.

“At some point in our lives, many of us are going to need hospital care and we need to be confident that no matter where we live, we’re going to get the best care in the world,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “The Partnership for Patients is helping the nation’s finest health systems share their knowledge and resources to make sure every hospital knows how to provide all of its patients with the highest quality care.”

Launched in April 2011, the Partnership for Patients now consists of more than 6,500 partners, including over 3,167 hospitals, along with employers, health plans, physicians, nurses, patient advocates, and state and federal government officials that have pledged to work together to reduce the number of hospital-acquired conditions by 40 percent and reduce hospital readmissions by 20 percent by the end of 2013.

Achieving the Partnership for Patients’ objectives would mean approximately 1.8 million fewer injuries to patients in the hospital, saving over 60,000 lives over three years, and would mean more than 1.6 million patients to recover from illness without suffering a preventable complication requiring re-hospitalization. 

THA, founded in 1938, serves as an advocate for hospitals, health systems, home health agencies and other healthcare organizations and the patients they serve. The association offers products and services through THA Solutions Group, Inc. and the Tennessee Hospital Education and Research Foundation, Inc., its nonprofit education program.

For more information on the Partnership for Patients, please visit http://www.healthcare.gov/partnershipforpatients. 

Raynes Installed As THA Chairman Landsman Selected As Chair-Elect

Posted on November 4, 2011

Scott Raynes, president and CEO, NorthCrest Medical Center, Springfield, was installed as chairman of the Tennessee Hospital Association’s board of directors during the association’s recent annual meeting in Nashville.

Joe Landsman, president and CEO, University Health System, Knoxville, was elected chairman-elect of the board. He will become chairman during the 2012 annual meeting in Nashville.

Larry Kloess, HCA, Nashville, became immediate past chairman. He also will serve as speaker of the House of Delegates in 2012.

Raynes joined NorthCrest Medical Center in 2005, and has over 18 years of hospital executive experience. Prior to working at NorthCrest, he served as president and CEO at Preston Memorial Health System, Kingwood, WV.

He received a bachelor’s degree at West Virginia Institute of Technology, a master’s degree at Morehead State University and a master’s degree in business administration at West Virginia University.

Landsman became president and CEO at University Health System in 2005 and had been with the health system since 1999. He has served as senior vice president, chief financial officer and executive vice president.

He previously served as executive vice president at Zale Lipshy University Hospital, Dallas, TX, and vice president of finance and chief information officer at Children’s Health System in Norfolk, VA.

In addition to serving on the THA board of directors and executive committee, Landsman has served on the East Tennessee Economic Development Committee board of directors and executive committee and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

He is a graduate of Loyola College, Baltimore, MD.

District representatives on the THA board of directors are (italicized names indicate reelected or newly elected members): Kem Mullins, CEO, Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett, Memphis district; Charlotte Burns, CEO, Hardin Medical Center, Savannah, west district; Saad Ehtisham, CEO, University Medical Center, Lebanon, middle district; Robert Otwell, CEO, Maury Regional Medical Center, Columbia, south middle district and; James Hobson, president, Memorial Health Care System, Chattanooga district; Keith Goodwin, president, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Knoxville district; Scott Bowman, administrator, Sweetwater Hospital Association, mid-east district; and Dennis Vonderfecht, president, Mountain States Health Alliance, Johnson City, northeast district.

At-large members of the board are: Jason Little, vice president, metro market, Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, Memphis; Bobby Arnold, president, West Tennessee Healthcare, Jackson; Wright Pinson, MD, deputy vice chancellor for health affairs, CEO of hospitals and clinics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville; Denny DeNarvarez, president, Wellmont Health System, Kingsport; Michael Clark, president, American Division, LifePoint Hospitals, Brentwood; and Chris McLean, chief financial officer, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis.

Other board appointments include: Clem Wilkes, Jr., board member, Mountain States Health Alliance, Johnson City, and Ed Anderson, board member, Cumberland Medical Center, Crossville, representing hospital trustees; Dennis Wolford, CEO, Macon County General Hospital, Lafayette, representing the THA Small or Rural Constituency Section; and THA President Craig Becker.

Mark Medley, president, American Division, Capella Healthcare, Franklin, will represent the THA Council on Government Affairs; Reginald Coopwood, MD, president, Regional Medical Center at Memphis, will represent the THA Council on Diversity; William Thompson, MD, chief medical officer, Baptist Hospital, Nashville, will serve as the physician representative; Marlin Chapman, director, compensation/benefits/HR analytics, Nissan North America,
Franklin, will serve as the business representative; Tom Gee, CEO, Henry County Medical Center, Paris, will serve as the THA Solutions Group board representative; Linda Greene, volunteer, Physicians Regional Medical Center, Knoxville, will represent the THA Council on Volunteers; and Joe Dawson, retired CEO, Blount Memorial Hospital, Maryville, has been selected to serve as an emeritus board member.

Robert Main, CEO, Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation, Chattanooga, and Anthony Spezia, president, Covenant Health, Knoxville, will serve as Tennessee’s delegates to the American Hospital Association (AHA). Wesley Littrell, CEO, Saint Thomas Health Affiliates, Nashville, will serve as an AHA alternate delegate.

THA, founded in 1938, serves as an advocate for hospitals, health systems, home health agencies and other healthcare organizations and the patients they serve. 

THA Announces 2011 Award Recipients

Posted on November 4, 2011

The Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) honored 23 individuals and organizations during its 73rd annual meeting at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville this week.

Distinguished Service Award

James Brexler, president and CEO, Erlanger Health System, Chattanooga, was the recipient of the distinguished service award, the highest award that is presented by THA. The award recognizes leadership and service by an individual member to THA throughout his career, in addition to his achievements and contributions to the healthcare industry.

Brexler was honored for providing invaluable leadership and administrative expertise in the delivery of health care at Erlanger Health System and throughout the state of Tennessee.

Community Service Award for Public Service

State Representative Vance Dennis, Savannah, received the community service award for public service for his support and advocacy on behalf of hospitals on healthcare issues.

President’s Award

Sheri Smith, nursing director for critical care services, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Knoxville, received the president’s award for her leadership in patient safety initiatives.

Meritorious Service Awards

Meritorious service awards recognize leadership and service by individuals in support of their hospitals and health systems.

Chief Executive Officer

Reginald Coopwood, MD, president, Regional Medical Center at Memphis, Memphis, received the meritorious service award for chief executive officer. He was honored for exemplifying passionate and effective leadership in the healthcare community.

Executive Staff

Toni Buchanan, chief financial officer, Unicoi County Memorial, Erwin, received the meritorious service award for executive staff. She was honored for her competence, compassion and ethics, as well as her ability to turn challenges into opportunities for growth.

Department Head

Russell Chesney, MD, professor and chair, department of pediatrics, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, received the meritorious service award for department head. He was recognized for his instrumental role in shaping the care provided at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and children’s hospitals across the country.

Governance

Joan Frierson, board of directors, Memorial Health Care System, Chattanooga, received the meritorious service award for governance. She was honored for her exceptional leadership, insight and knowledge in all of her work at Memorial Health Care System.

Medical Staff

Harrison Turner, MD, a physician at Wellmont CVA Heart Institute, Kingsport, received the meritorious service award for medical staff. He was recognized for his lifetime commitment to improving heart care.

Charles Mascioli, MD, medical director, intensivist program and chief of staff, Team Health, Methodist Medical Center, Oak Ridge, also received the meritorious service award for medical staff. He was recognized for establishing a critical care program that has greatly impacted the lives of patients and families at Methodist Medical Center.

Alan Drake, MD, physician, White County Community Hospital, Sparta, also received the meritorious service award for medical staff. He was honored for his leadership and guidance at the hospital.

Volunteer

Don Hutson, volunteer, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, received the meritorious service award for a volunteer. He was honored for developing a system to better facilitate communication between a family and the care team at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

Kiyhon Kim, food and nutrition services supervisor, Hendersonville Medical Center, Hendersonville, also received the meritorious service award for a volunteer. He was recognized for his remarkable humanitarian efforts to assist those affected by natural disasters as part of the shelter box response team.

Maria Chandler, volunteer, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, also received the meritorious service award for a volunteer. She was honored for the tremendous impact she has had on the lives of children and families at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for more than 25 years.

Dennis and Pat Kimbrough, volunteers, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, Knoxville, also received the meritorious service award for a volunteer. They were recognized for their inspirational volunteer work with stroke patients and families at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center.

Community Service Awards

Community service awards recognize leadership and service by organizations in their local communities in association with member institutions of THA.

Television

Fox 13, Memphis, received the community service award for television. The station was honored for featuring important health issues for children and families in the Memphis area.

WCYB-TV5, Kingsport, also received the community service award for television. The station was recognized for its vital role in the success of Wellmont Health System’s Go Red for Women campaign, which seeks to improve women’s health by highlighting risks associated with heart disease and promoting healthy lifestyle choices.

Radio

WDEF, Chattanooga, received the community service award for radio. It was recognized for its continued loyalty and dedication to Children’s Hospital at Erlanger Health System through its Cure Kids Cancer radiothon, which is partnered with the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

THA Nurse of Distinction Awards

The nurse of distinction awards recognize outstanding contributions to nursing by registered nurses employed at a THA member hospital or health system.

Executive Nurse of Distinction Award

Jennifer Elliott, director of nursing, emergency, critical care and patient access, Baptist Hospital, Nashville, received the executive nurse of distinction award. She was honored for her continuous commitment to providing safe quality care for patients at Baptist Hospital.

Danita Mowl, clinical leader, Bristol Regional Medical Center, also received the executive nurse of distinction award. She was recognized for her dedication and compassion as clinical leader at the New Life Birthing Center at Bristol Regional Medical Center.

Clinical Nurse of Distinction Award

Tracy Tidwell, program director, brain tumor program, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, received the clinical nurse of distinction award. She was honored for dedicating her life to helping families whose children have brain tumors and leading two research studies that have made Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital a more family-centered hospital.

ACHE Awards

Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Award

Janice McKinley, senior vice president, Covenant Health, Knoxville, received the senior-level healthcare executive award from the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She was honored for her dedication and participation in the ACHE and her respect as a true healthcare leader.

Early Career Healthcare Executive Award

Julie Miller, chief operating officer, Williamson Medical Center, Franklin, received the early career healthcare executive award. This award is presented to an individual under 40 years old and recognizes their active participation and support of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She was honored for her involvement in the ACHE and her local community.

Zach Chandler, vice president and metro-Memphis market leader, Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, Memphis, also received the early career healthcare executive award. He was recognized for his involvement in ACHE, as well as his professional accomplishments.

THA, founded in 1938, serves as an advocate for hospitals, health systems, home health agencies and other healthcare organizations and the patients they serve.

Hospitals Engage Physicians in Patient Safety Efforts

Posted on October 18, 2011

Engaging physicians in efforts to improve patient safety and clinical quality was a featured session at the recent Tennessee Center for Patient Safety’s infections collaborative statewide conference in Nashville. Participating in this panel discussion were (from left) Christopher Edwards, MD, chief medical officer, Maury Regional Medical Center, Columbia; Tommy Crunk, MD, NorthCrest Medical Center, Springfield; and Tom Talbot, MD, chief hospital epidemiologist, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville. An estimated 166 healthcare professionals from hospitals across Tennessee attended this patient safety conference.