VHA Inc., a national healthcare alliance, has awarded four Memorial Hermann hospitals a total of six 2008 VHA Leadership Awards for Clinical Excellence for meeting or exceeding national performance standards for clinical care in specific areas from the third quarter of 2006 to the second quarter of 2007.
"We are honored to be recognized for our commitment to clinical excellence," said Dan Wolterman, Memorial Hermann president and chief executive officer. "By consistently meeting or exceeding clinical core measures, we improve the quality of care and outcomes for our patients."
Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital and Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital were recognized for being ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) free for 12 consecutive months. Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital and Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital received recognition for being VAP free and bloodstream infection free for 12 consecutive months. All hospitals were honored at VHA's Leadership Conference in Philadelphia on May 4.
VHA serves more than 1,400 not-for-profit hospitals and more than 21,000 non-acute health care organizations nationwide. VHA tracked hospital performance from one quarter over the next and only recognized hospitals that continued to show improvement each quarter, or whose average scores across these measures put the hospital at the top of the nation.
"The pressure is on hospitals across the country to improve their clinical performance," said Trent Haywood, MD, JD, chief medical officer at VHA. "Memorial Hermann has responded and excelled in this environment."
About VHA
VHA Inc., based in Irving, Texas, is a national alliance that provides industry-leading supply chain management services and supports the formation of regional and national networks to help members improve their clinical and economic performance. With 16 offices across the U.S., VHA has a track record of proven results in serving more than 1,400 not-for-profit hospitals and more than 21,000 non-acute care organizations nationwide.