Farmington Hills, MI – October 29, 2008 –  One hundred and four Michigan hospitals today received the Governor’s Award for Improving Patient Safety and Quality of Care in the Hospital and Critical Access Hospital Setting(s).  The Governor presents the award(s) in partnership with MPRO, Michigan’s Quality Improvement Organization. The award(s) acknowledge hospitals for embracing quality improvement and patient safety initiatives in selected clinical areas. Furthermore, the Governor bestowed Special Recognition upon 15 Michigan hospitals for top performance.

“Award recipients have demonstrated their commitment to providing Michigan citizens with high quality health care,” said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.  “MPRO is privileged to partner with the Governor in sponsoring this award to honor efforts which fully embrace the best that medical science has to offer,” said Robert J. Yellan, President and CEO of MPRO.  Mr. Yellan added, “Quality improvement is ever evolving and advancements in medicine are constant. Award recipients should be commended for their steadfast commitment to quality and to providing care that is safe, efficient, and person-centered.”
Award criterion aligns with improving care in a number of clinical areas.  Participating hospitals self nominate and choose from pre-selected clinical areas. These clinical areas are designated as national health care priorities by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Acute Care hospitals individually selected from one or more of the following areas:

Critical Access hospitals focused their efforts in one or more of the following clinical areas:

The Governor’s Award is based on hospital self-reported clinical data for the 2007 calendar year. MPRO and the Governor’s office have partnered to honor hospitals since 2003.
The Governor’s Award has been enthusiastically supported by a variety of Michigan organizations and professional associations including; Alliance for Health; American Cancer Society; American College of Physicians-Michigan Chapter; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; Renal Network 11; Greater Detroit Area Health Council; Greater Flint Health Coalition; HIMSS Michigan Chapter; Michigan Academy of Family Physicians; Michigan Academy of Physicians Assistants; Michigan Association for Healthcare Quality; Michigan Association of Health Plans; Michigan Association Osteopathic Family Physicians; Michigan Health Council; Michigan Health Information Management Association; Michigan Medical Group Management Association; Michigan Osteopathic Association; Michigan Primary Care Association; Michigan Rural Health Association; National Kidney Foundation of Michigan; Michigan Nurses Association; Michigan Pharmacy Association; Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium; and the Michigan State Medical Society.

MPRO and the Governor honored hospitals with an award(s) ceremony on October 29, 2008, at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo, Michigan. For further information on the award, go to: http://www.mpro.org/news-events.htm.

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Editor’s note:
A list of recipients is available at: http://www.mpro.org/news-events.htm.

About MPRO:  MPRO is a federally designated Quality Improvement Organization and is under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.  MPRO works with Medicare providers statewide to improve the quality, safety, and delivery of health care for Michigan’s 1.5 million Medicare beneficiaries.

This material was prepared by MPRO, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Michigan, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  9SOW-MI-6.5-0821