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NEWS FROM
CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE
December 29, 2008
Joint Commission Reports Positive Survey Results for Cambridge
Health Alliance
Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Revere, Somerville,
Winthrop, MA…Results of the recent triennial survey of Cambridge
Health Alliance (CHA) by the Joint Commission, the not-for-profit
organization dedicated to improving the safety and quality of health
care in the U.S., were "outstanding," according to Dennis
D. Keefe, CHA's chief executive officer, and "is the best report
we've seen on CHA's operations since its inception."
The Joint Commission survey is an unannounced, intense review of
hospital practices and no stone is left unturned in its surveys,
which affect a hospital's accreditation. Seven surveyors from the
Joint Commission spent a total of six days conducting the review
of CHA's three main campuses and 20 ambulatory centers in September
and October. Following the initial results, hospitals have 45 days
to submit responses and provide data to support any areas of disagreement.
In its initial CHA review, the Joint Commission found 10 areas
where it made recommendations to fully meet standards. None of the
findings threatened accreditation but CHA administrators provided
additional documentation to clarify CHA's performance and demonstrated
sufficient compliance with standards. Earlier this month, CHA was
informed that the Joint Commission accepted clarifications in seven
of its findings and the three remaining items - covering such things
as bedside procedure "time outs" and medication storage
issues - may be reduced further still.
"Combined with the many other accolades and recognition of
our achievement and improving quality and safety, the Joint Commission
confirms that despite our well publicized and chronicled financial
situation, we are focused on what's most important and I'm proud
of everyone involved in sustaining our mission," Keefe said.
This year, for example, CHA was one of 17 hospitals in Massachusetts
recognized by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care for performance in the
top 25 percent of hospitals nation wide on measures of quality,
safety, and patient experience. CHA's physician group also was an
honor roll recipient for excellence in preventive and chronic illness
care for pediatric patients.
In addition, in September 2008, MassPRO, the Federal Healthcare
Quality Improvement Organization in Massachusetts, awarded CHA for
its exemplary commitment to quality improvement in acute myocardial
infarction, heart failure, pneumonia, and surgical care. CHA received
the award through its participation in work sponsored by the Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Its collaboration with other
area hospitals helped its participant group score in the top five
in the nation. Lastly, for the 12 months through June '08, CHA was
in the top 10 of the approximately 86 academic medical centers that
benchmark data through UHC for aggregate pneumonia, heart failure,
and surgical care processes.
"It is important to remember what a unique organization CHA
is," said Dr. Lucian Leape, a CHA board member and a national
leader in safety standard advocacy for health care organizations.
"It is spread over three campuses and 20 ambulatory centers
over a wide geographic area yet the Joint Commission found a strong
adherence to uniform standards of health and safety across the entire
network. That's a substantial accomplishment and something to be
proud of."
Keefe noted that the Joint Commission survey is always a tense
time but that the entire staff responded this year with professionalism
and pride. In addition, with the unannounced nature of the Joint
Commission survey, CHA staff has shown that patient safety and quality
is part of its culture and daily work.
"Perfection doesn't really exist in a review like this,"
Keefe said in a recent message to CHA's staff. "But I would
venture that our results demonstrate that in terms of quality health
care delivered to our patients in an organization of our size and
complexity, we are continuing to pursue perfection in everything
we do. It's a nice holiday message in the midst of all the negative
news."
Cambridge Health Alliance is an innovative, award-winning
health system that provides high quality care in Cambridge, Somerville,
and Boston's metro-north communities. It includes three hospital
campuses, more than 20 primary care and specialty practices, the
Cambridge Public Health Dept., and the Network Health plan. CHA
is a Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate and is also affiliated
with Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard School of Dental Medicine,
and Tufts University School of Medicine.
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Media Contact
David Cecere
Media Relations Manager
Phone: 617-503-8428
Cell: 617-921-9613
Pager: 617-546-1879
dcecere@challiance.org
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