River Parishes Hospital has received a 2010 Louisiana Hospital Capstone Quality Award, presented by eQHealth Solutions, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Louisiana. The award was announced at the 2011 Louisiana Medicare Quality Summit and Awards hosted by eQHealth Solutions in Baton Rouge. River Parishes Hospital was presented the award for improving the quality of health care for patients in the clinical areas of: heart failure, pneumonia, acute myocardial infarction and Surgical Care Improvement Project with

a goal of reducing surgical complications and making surgery safer. These topics have been designated as national health care priorities

by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

 eQHealth Solutions established the Capstone Award to recognize Louisiana hospitals that achieved successful implementation of high quality initiatives directed toward improving patient care in the hospital setting.

“We are proud of the quality improvement initiatives being carried out at RPH. We are realizing direct benefits as patient health improves and lives are saved,” said Gerald Fornoff, CEO. “Our combined efforts were successful in improving the quality of care provided to our patients.”

The quality improvement efforts were led by: Gina Pastureau, Case Management; Marie Tassin, RN, Risk Manager; Lori Noel, RN, Surgical Services; Jenny Frickey, RN, Outpatient Services; Melba Perez-Berguno, Social Services/Case Management; Montana Becnel, Case Management; Jane Ehrhardt, RN, Quality Coordinator and Syl Pawol, RN, Director of Quality. Medical staff efforts have also been crucial to the hospital’s success in this arena.

“We use proven, evidence-based practices to assure that consistent medical care for all patients is carried out,” said Syl Pawol, RN, Director of Quality. “We are proud to receive this award.”

The Hospital Capstone Quality Awards are based on select criteria and measured improvements in the specified clinical areas. Patients must have received all measures for which they were eligible to receive during an episode of care in order for the hospital to be counted toward this award calculation. There were 38 hospitals in the state that received the 2010 Louisiana Hospital Capstone Quality Award.