Emory University Hospital Named to Georgia Hospital Association Quality Honor Roll

Emory University Hospital has been named as one of only 23 hospitals in the state to the Georgia Hospital Association's (GHA) Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) Quality Honor Roll.

The honor roll is based on clinical data provided by the federal Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS), which administers the nation's Medicare and Medicaid programs. The data was collected from October 2006 through September 2007.

"This is a great accomplishment for Emory University Hospital," says Joseph Parker, president of GHA. "This recognition further underscores the commitment of the Emory staff to ensuring that every patient receives the best, most effective health care possible."

The CMS data details how well a hospital's caregivers adhere to a list of 10 Appropriate Care Measures (ACM) which are the clinical processes of care that are known to be the most effective methods of treatment for patients who have suffered heart attacks, heart failure or pneumonia. For instance, a recommended treatment to help prevent a heart attack is to take aspirin either before or upon arrival at the hospital. A hospital's adherence to these recommended clinical practices usually leads to better outcomes.

"At Emory Healthcare we are committed to enhancing our national leadership in clinical quality through our many educational, cultural and process-driven initiatives, says Emory Healthcare Chief Quality Officer William Bornstein, MD, PhD. "This recognition certainly validates our continuing efforts, but it also inspires us to continue challenging ourselves to improve each day.

"By maintaining a constant focus on our quality promise to our patients, we recognize that clinical outcomes improve, care is safer, and patients and families experience better service," says Bornstein.