Spectrum Health Recognized by Joint Commission

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., November 13, 2017 – The Joint Commission has recognized several Spectrum Health hospitals as 2017 Pioneers in Quality™ Data Contributors for their contributions to electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) data for quality improvement in health care.

The following Spectrum Health hospitals submitted data:

Big Rapids Hospital
Blodgett Hospital
Butterworth Hospital
Gerber Memorial Hospital
Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
Kelsey Hospital
United Hospital
Zeeland Community Hospital

Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital is not a Joint Commission facility and Spectrum Health Pennock did not choose to submit eCQM’s in 2016.

Until recently, most hospitals collected information to measure health care quality by manually abstracting data from patient records. Today, through eCQMs—which rely on structured, encoded data present in the electronic health record—hospitals can electronically collect and transmit data on the quality of care that patients receive. The electronic data can be analyzed to measure and improve care processes, performance and outcomes.

The Joint Commission, the United States’ leading accreditor of health care organizations, established the Pioneers in Quality™ program to assist and recognize hospitals that report eCQM data, as well as share best practices for all hospitals in gathering, analyzing and leveraging eCQM data for quality improvement. Of more than 3,200 Joint Commission-accredited hospitals that reported 2016 data, only 480 have been named 2017 Pioneers in Quality™ hospitals by meeting criteria in one or more of the following categories:

Data Contributor: A hospital that voluntarily submitted 2016 electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) data to The Joint Commission for measurement toward quality improvement.
Expert Contributor: One of nine hospitals recognized by The Joint Commission for contributing eCQM knowledge and utilization practices for sharing with other accredited hospitals.
Solution Contributor: One of 11 hospitals that submitted a practice selected for inclusion in The Joint Commission’s “Proven Practices Collection,” a peer-to-peer resource for other accredited hospitals on proven eCQM and health IT practices.

“We are very pleased to be recognized by The Joint Commission,” said Tina Freese Decker, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Spectrum Health. “This recognition reflects our commitment to continuous quality improvement, especially as it relates to the adoption of electronic clinical quality measures.”

“We commend Spectrum Health as a 2017 Pioneers in Quality™ organization for its contributions and commitment to electronic clinical quality measure data and practice toward quality improvement,” said David W. Baker, MD, MPH, FACP, executive vice president, Division of Health Care Quality Evaluation, The Joint Commission. “Out of 3,200 health care organizations, Spectrum Health hospitals are among only 480 that The Joint Commission has recognized this year for embracing new technology to submit data about the care it provides to patients. That work to voluntarily share information helps the entire industry move forward in utilizing electronic clinical quality measurement for health care improvement.”

Pioneers in Quality™ recognition is not an indicator or measure of data quality or quality of care, but an indicator of an organization’s commitment to adopting eCQMs toward quality improvement. It recognizes eCQM data reporting and other contributions that advance eCQM adoption in health care. For more information about The Joint Commission and the Pioneers in Quality™ program, visit www.jointcommission.org.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

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Media Relations
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Email: sarina.gleason@corewellhealth.org