Two Navicent Health Hospitals Win Statewide Patient Safety Awards for Improvements in Quality Care, Infection Reduction

The Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) presented two of its prestigious Quality and Patient Safety Awards to The Medical Center, Navicent Health in Macon, Ga. and one Quality and Patient Safety Award to The Medical Center of Peach County, Atrium Health Navicent in Byron, Ga. for their efforts to improve patient safety and reduce infections.

The Medical Center of Peach County, Atrium Health Navicent was awarded for its project that reduced the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). The project, titled, "Minimizing CAUTI Risk through Application of Evidence-Based Practices," won second place in the "Critical Access Hospitals" category.

The Medical Center, Navicent Health in Macon was recognized for two similar projects, tying itself for first place in the "Greater than 300 Bed" category. The first project, "Improving Patient Outcomes via Interdisciplinary Bedside Rounds," improved patient safety through more effective rounding. The second project, "Cutting CAUTI," reduced the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

"Quality and patient safety are top priorities at Atrium Health Navicent hospitals. We are continuously examining and modifying our processes in order to ensure faster recovery times and overall safer patient care for each individual who seeks treatment in a Atrium Health Navicent facility. We are thrilled to have three such projects recognized and awarded by the Partnership for Health and Accountability," said Christopher Hendry, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for Atrium Health Navicent.

"Hospitals are diligently working each day to ensure the safety of their patients, whether through infection prevention or overall patient care improvement," said Georgia Hospital Association Chief Medical Officer Doug Patten, M.D. "We applaud Atrium Health Navicent, not only for its success in this area, but also for sharing best practices with other hospitals across the state so each has the opportunity to make critical progress in patient safety and ensure the best and safest care possible for patients."

PHA's annual awards recognize Georgia healthcare organizations for achievement in reducing the risk of medical errors and improving patient safety and medical outcomes.

About PHA

The Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA), an affiliate of GHA, was established in January 2000 to improve patient care and patient safety in hospitals and other health care facilities and create healthy communities.

About GHA

Founded in 1929, GHA serves more than 170 hospitals in Georgia and promotes the health and welfare of the public through the development of better hospital care for all Georgia's citizens. The mission of GHA is to advance the health of individuals and communities by serving as the leading advocate for all Georgia hospitals and health care systems. GHA represents its members before the General Assembly and Congress, as well as state and federal regulatory agencies, and is an allied member of the American Hospital Association. For more information, please call 770-249-4500 or visit gha.org.

About Atrium Health Navicent

Atrium Health Navicent was incorporated on November 17, 1994, as a nonprofit corporation whose primary purpose is to coordinate the Medical Center, Navicent Health and other affiliated entities in their mission of providing a comprehensive continuum of high quality, reasonably priced healthcare services to the region. Atrium Health Navicent has 830 beds for medical, surgical, rehabilitation and hospice purposes. The health system includes The Medical Center, Navicent Health, a nationally recognized tertiary teaching hospital; Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital, the region's only dedicated pediatric hospital; Medical Center of Peach County, Atrium Health Navicent, a rural critical access hospital; Rehabilitation Hospital, Atrium Health Navicent, the region's oldest and most experienced rehabilitation provider; Pine Pointe, Atrium Health Navicent, which provides palliative and hospice care in homes and in its facility; Carlyle Place, Atrium Health Navicent, the area's first continuing care retirement community; Navicent Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Atrium Health Navicent; as well as diagnostic and home care services. For more information, please visit www.navicenthealth.org.