For Immediate Release: January 26, 2006

 

For More Information Contact:

Lori L. Henshey

Publications Coordinator

West Virginia Hospital Association

304/353-9747

Fax: 304/344-9745

lhenshey@wvha.org

 

 

WV HEF RECEIVES BENEDUM FOUNDATION AWARD FOR PATIENT-SAFETY, HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

 

CHARLESTON, WV – The Healthcare Education Foundation (HEF) of West Virginia has announced receipt of an award from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. The grant monies, which total $110,000, will be given to the West Virginia Hospital Association (WVHA) for the following patient safety, healthcare improvement projects:

  • Plan and develop the West Virginia Center for Patient Safety (WVCPS). The WVCPS will provide leadership, coordination and technical assistance to hospitals in their efforts to improve patient safety and the quality of healthcare delivery.
  • Further implement the West Virginia Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Network Performance Improvement Initiative to enhance financial, clinical, and operational performance.
  • Develop Project Vision to explore development of a regulatory and payment model that provides incentives to improve patient safety and quality while containing growth of healthcare expenditures.

The first project, the WVCPS, will enable West Virginia hospitals to respond to federal initiatives for improved patient safety through collaboration.

          For the second project, the WVHA Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Network has contracted with Applied Management Systems (AMS) to begin implementation of the multi-year Performance Improvement/Balanced Scorecard Initiative. The WVHA has entered into an initial contract for a 19-hospital readiness assessment. Grant monies will allow for further implementation of the Balanced Scorecard strategic management tool, to provide interim transitional support to CAHs through June 2006 for technical assistance and operational benchmarking facilitation.    

Lastly, through Project Vision, the WVHA will continue working with national consultants to test new payment and regulatory models. This member-led effort is focused on the development of strategies to produce a rational healthcare delivery system in the state that preserves appropriate access to affordable, high-quality health services while maximizing the efficient and effective delivery of patient care.

“WVHA appreciates this generous support from the Benedum Foundation,” said Steven Summer, WVHA President and CEO, “that will enable West Virginia hospitals to continue these important initiatives to improve healthcare delivery in the state.”

          The WVHA represents 73 acute care hospitals and specialty hospitals and health systems in West Virginia.