Forrest City Medical Center Recognized for Achievement on Statement Quality Measures
Angie Vondran and Renee Butler (second and third from left), accept
recognition for quality performance bonus payments awarded to Forrest
City Medical Center from Arkansas Medicaid Deputy Director Tami Harlan
(far left) and Arkansas Medicaid Medical Director William E. Golden, MD.
The amount of the check reflects the amount awarded statewide for 2016.
Photo by Steve Shuler, AFMC |
Forrest City Medical Center was recently awarded the Inpatient Quality Incentive Award from the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, the Arkansas Hospital Association and Arkansas Medicaid for quality metrics in their Obstetrics Department and in efforts to reduce tobacco use among patients.
Seven measures were met, including timely screening of newborn screening specimens, timely submission of newborn screening specimens to the Arkansas Department of Health lab, decrease in percentage of primary C-sections, decrease in use of contrast material in abdominal CT scans, tobacco use screening, tobacco treatment offered/provided, and tobacco treatment offered/provided at discharge. The award, along with a performance bonus payment, was presented during the Arkansas Medicaid Educational Conference held in Little Rock on December 7.
“Our clinical and support teams strive to provide safe, high-quality care for our patients and that remains our top priority,” said Forrest City Medical Center CEO Kevin Decker. “I thank Arkansas Medicaid for this recognition and for elevating the issue of hospital quality and safety within our state.”
FCMC’s performance bonus payment was part of more than $4.5 million paid to 26 Arkansas hospitals for the 2016 Inpatient Quality Incentive program.
The IQI program, in which Forrest City Medical Center participates, has earned national attention for innovative involvement with the health care community. According to the Medical Director of Arkansas Medicaid, William E. Golden, MD, the program also reflects a growing movement toward rewarding hospitals for commitment to quality and providing evidence-based care to their patients. “The outstanding dedication of a growing number of Arkansas hospitals to improve their quality of care not only helps Medicaid patients, but also saves public dollars,” said Golden. “Arkansas continues to be a national leader in quality improvement.”
Forrest City Medical Center and other hospitals participating in the Inpatient Quality Incentive program are required to collect and submit data on quality measures. Participating hospitals are required to meet specific quality goals for at least 80 percent of eligible measures in order to receive bonus payments, which are adjusted annually to continually improve quality.
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