Columbus Regional Hospital is the recipient of the 2007 American Hospital Association (AHA) – McKesson Quest for Quality Prize®, the highest quality honor awarded annually by the hospital industry. Columbus Regional Hospital is the first hospital in Indiana to be awarded the Quest for Quality Prize and was recognized at the national 2007 Health Forum and AHA Leadership Summit in San Diego on July 22.

The Quest for Quality Prize honors the demonstration of leadership and innovation in quality, safety, and commitment to patient care.  Specifically, organizations are evaluated for their commitment to improving areas of safety, patient-centeredness, effectiveness, efficiency, timeliness, and equity.  Such efforts can serve as a model for others in the industry. 

Ten years ago, Columbus Regional Hospital embarked on a mission to transform the hospital from “good to great” through dedication of hospital leadership, physicians, and employees to quality improvements for patients.  The hospital has demonstrated its commitment to offering quality care through both clinical and non-clinical efforts.  As an example, Columbus Regional Hospital achieved a considerable decline in surgical site infections and ventilator associated pneumonia in recent years, two issues that have plagued the health care industry. 

Columbus Regional Hospital ranks in the top four percent of hospitals in the country for clinical quality according to the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services.  Additionally, the hospital has attained a significant increase in patient satisfaction by encouraging open communication with the patient throughout their hospital experience and developing a system of accountability, with patient, employee, and physician satisfaction all in the national top performance decile.

“This prize is a testament to our dedicated staff and vision of being a leader in providing excellent quality care to patients and their families,” said Columbus Regional Hospital Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tom Sonderman.  “We must continue to push ourselves to offer the highest quality of care to the community and share our best practices with other hospitals.”

“Columbus Regional Hospital is passionately involved in the pursuit of excellence and in creating an environment that achieves optimal patient outcomes and the highest levels of patient satisfaction,” said AHA President and Chief Executive Officer, Rich Umbdenstock.  “The environment is also one where employees are fully engaged and empowered to improve quality and enhance patient care.”

Columbus Regional Hospital was selected as the 2007 winner of the Quest for Quality Prize by a multi-disciplinary committee of health care experts following a site visit and extensive application review.  The prize was first awarded in 2002 and Columbus Regional Hospital is only the sixth hospital to receive this national honor.  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City were finalists for the 2007 award. 

The prize is supported by grants from the McKesson Foundation and McKesson Corporation.  For more information on the award, visit the Quest for Quality Web site at www.aha.org/questforquality.