CCR Receives National Recogntion

Each year, Premier, a health care performance improvement alliance of over 3,600 US hospitals in which WMHS is a member, accepts nominations for its annual Cares Award.  The award is given to providers who support specific populations who may be underserved or disenfranchised by mainstream health care delivery systems.  Some examples of these individuals would be migrant farm workers, the homeless, low-income moms and infants, the sickest of the sick who don’t have the means to receive care, or children in need.  WMHS was a winner of the award in 2005.  

This year, WMHS submitted an entry and we were notified last fall that we were one of six finalists for the award.  Our submission was for the Center for Clinical Resources where we care for the sickest of the sick.  Usually, individuals with multiple co-morbidities such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, hypertension and COPD are patients of the Center, which is staffed by nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians,  respiratory therapists, patient navigators, and community health workers.  All of these services are provided at no cost to the patient.  Our goal is to keep these patients as healthy as possible and reduce their need for hospital services.  The Center has been an overwhelming success in saving millions of dollars through reduced admissions, readmissions, ED visits and ancillary utilization. But most importantly, it is having a profound impact on the lives of these patients and their families.

The award was presented last evening in Miami, Florida, at Premier's annual conference, and the winning program provides services to migrant farm workers in Austin, Texas.  Although we didn’t receive the Cares Award, we receive national recognition and a check for $24,000 for being a finalist.  Not a bad consolation prize.

Congratulations to all who have been such an integral part of the Center for Clinical Resources since its inception.  Thank you for a job so very well done and the national recognition that you have brought to WMHS.