Saint Francis Earns MHA Aim for Excellence Award for Outstanding Surgery Outcomes

Saint Francis Medical Center is one of three Missouri healthcare organizations recognized with the Missouri Hospital Association (MHA) Aim for Excellence Award for delivery of improved population health, patient outcomes and experience, and value of care.

The award was presented during MHA’s 97th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Osage Beach, Mo. The award recognizes progress toward the Triple Aim — better health, improved care and lower cost.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Surgical Site Infections (SSI) occur in two to four percent of all patients undergoing surgical procedures. Combining data analysis and a targeted team effort, Saint Francis Healthcare System’s infection rate is among the best in the nation and approaching zero. Articles have been written in clinical journals to share this best practice with other hospitals.

The multi-disciplinary team collected data on care to identify opportunities for improvement. Surgeons, anesthesiologists, operating room nurses and staff, environmental services staff, and performance improvement staff used the data to improve processes. Outcomes were continuously fed into the improvement system to inform change in practice, hospital wide to achieve better outcomes for surgical patients and for patients undergoing all types of procedures within Saint Francis Healthcare System.

Two other Missouri healthcare organizations recognized with the award are Mosaic Medical Center – Albany and Mercy in St. Louis.