Daviess Community Hospital is committed to improving the health of people who live in the community. In support of that mission, the hospital implemented several quality and safety initiatives this past year.  So they were disappointed to receive information from a healthcare review organization that gave the hospital a low score on some quality measures. 

The Leapfrog Group is a voluntary program “aimed at mobilizing employer purchasing power to alert America’s health industry that big leaps in health care safety, quality and customer value will be recognized and rewarded.”  The safety ratings are based on data from 2009 to September 2011, but have been just recently released for all US hospitals. 

Other hospitals receiving low scores from Leapfrog include UCLA Medical Center, which received an F, and the prestigious Cleveland Clinic, which was given a D.

 “We respect the Leapfrog Group’s efforts and take their review very seriously,” said DCH Chief Executive Officer, David M. Bixler.   “Unfortunately, the scores from their most recent report are based on dated data and do not reflect our more recent quality efforts and successes.”

 Bixler says since he started at the hospital in September, he has been impressed with the level of ongoing quality and safety efforts at the hospital.  “The community and our patients can take pride in what our employees and physicians do, every day, to ensure a safe environment of care for every patient, every time,” says Bixler. 

“There are several successes that highlight the hospital’s focus on patient safety and clinical excellence that have been implemented after the Leapfrog reported period.” 

 One recent quality effort that DCH physicians and employees have successfully implemented is Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE).  Bixler says the hospital’s new CPOE system is decreasing delays in physician order completion, reducing errors related to handwriting and transcription, allowing order entry at the bedside, clinic or off-site, and providing error-checking for duplicate or incorrect doses or tests. 

 Another program for wound care is helping physicians and nurses better assess, document and treat patients with wounds and pressure ulcers.  And daily documentation reviews are enhancing the communication and coordination between physicians and clinicians, helping to avoid delays in patient care.

“While we may question certain aspects of the Leapfrog reporting process,” says Bixler, “we will incorporate their information into our ongoing quality efforts.  We are committed to clinical excellence and ensuring that every patient has a positive, healing experience at our hospital.”

 About Daviess Community Hospital

Daviess Community Hospital, Daviess County’s second largest employer, was organized in 1913 and provides a broad spectrum of quality healthcare services for people living in Daviess and surrounding counties.  The only hospital north of Evansville on the I-69 corridor in southwestern Indiana, DCH is a not-for-profit and county-owned facility with 76 beds.  Daviess Community Hospital provides a life span of health and wellness services including a modern birthing center, emergency department, general and orthopedic surgical services, and expert diagnostic lab and imaging services.  Nearly 600 employees and physicians work at the hospital and in our area medical clinics, delivering skilled medical care professionally and with a personal touch, earning the hospital numerous awards for exceeding customer expectations.  Learn more about our services, employees, and physicians by visiting www.dchosp.org.

Mission: Improve the health of the people who live in our communities.

Vision: To be a leader in providing quality healthcare services.