NNMC NEWS RELEASE
Northern Nevada Medical Center was named a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® for 2012 by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America. The Joint Commission recognized the hospital for exemplary performance in using evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to improve care for certain conditions.
The clinical processes focus on care for heart attack, pneumonia, surgery, children’s asthma, stroke and venous thromboembolism, as well as inpatient psychiatric services. New this year is a category for immunization for pneumonia and influenza.
Northern Nevada Medical Center is one of 1,099 hospitals in the U.S. earning the distinction of Top Performer on Key Quality Measures for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance. The hospital was recognized for its achievement for heart attack, pneumonia and surgical care.
To be named a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures, hospitals must achieve cumulative performance of 95 percent or above across all reported accountability measures, 95 percent or above on each reported accountability measure where there were at least 30 eligible cases and at least one core measure set that has a composite rate of 95 percent or above.
A 95 percent score means a hospital provided an evidence-based practice 95 times out of 100 opportunities. Each accountability measure represents an evidence-based practice – examples include giving aspirin at arrival for heart attack patients, giving antibiotics one hour before surgery, or providing a home management plan of care for children with asthma.
“Northern Nevada Medical Center and all the Top Performer hospitals have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to quality improvement and they should be proud of their achievement,” says Mark R. Chassin, MD, FACP, MPP, MPH, president and chief executive officer, The Joint Commission. “We have much to celebrate this year. Nearly half of our accredited hospitals have attained or nearly attained the Top Performer distinction. This truly shows that we are approaching a tipping point in hospital quality performance that will directly contribute to better health outcomes for patients.”
“We understand that what matters most to patients at Northern Nevada Medical Center is safe, effective care. That’s why we have made a commitment to accreditation and to positive patient outcomes through evidence-based care processes. We are proud to receive the distinction of being a Joint Commission Top Performer on Key Quality Measures,” says Alan Olive, CEO/managing director of Northern Nevada Medical Center.
In addition to being included in The Joint Commission’s “Improving America’s Hospitals” annual report, Northern Nevada Medical Center will be recognized on The Joint Commission’s Quality Check website (www.qualitycheck.org). The Top Performer program will be featured in the December issues of The Joint Commission Perspectives and The Source.
Northern Nevada Medical Center is owned and operated by subsidiaries of Universal Health Services, Inc. (“UHS”). UHS is one of the nation’s largest hospital companies, operating acute care and behavioral health hospitals and ambulatory centers nationwide and in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It acts as the advisor to Universal Health Realty Income Trust, a real estate investment trust (NYSE: UHT). The Joint Commission also recognized four additional acute care hospitals and 43 behavioral health facilities owned and operated by subsidiaries of UHS.
Northern Nevada Medical Center’s tradition of providing quality healthcare in a comfortable, accessible environment means peace of mind for the thousands of patients served by the hospital each year. Northern Nevada Medical Center is a 108-bed acute care hospital located in Sparks, Nevada. Northern Nevada Medical Center is the only hospital in Nevada certified by The Joint Commission in knee replacement, hip replacement, spine surgery, low back pain, and as a Primary Stroke Center. Northern Nevada Medical Center is also an Accredited Chest Pain Center by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care.
