Lakeside Medical Center receives award from Florida Hospital Association

Lakeside Medical Center, a 70-bed, acute-care hospital in Belle Glade, Florida, is proud to be one of eight Florida hospitals and the only one in Palm Beach County recognized by the Florida Hospital Association for “Significant Achievement in Reducing Harm Across the Board.”

The rural hospital, which is owned and operated by the Health Care District of Palm Beach County and is accredited by The Joint Commission, participated in the Florida Hospital Association’s Hospital Engagement Network (FHA HEN) created by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with the goal of significantly improving health care quality nationally.

Over a nine month period, Lakeside Medical Center prevented 34 patient readmissions that resulted in an estimated cost-savings of more than $290,000. In addition, the hospital:

• prevented excessive use of anticoagulants that saved $15,000 in costs
• prevented eight adverse drug/opiate events that saved $24,000 in costs, and
• prevented five central line infections that saved $85,000 in costs.

“We are honored to receive this Florida Hospital Association award which is a reflection of our medical staff’s ongoing commitment to quality care, safety and reducing costs,” said Rick Roche, Lakeside Medical Center Hospital Administrator. “This achievement means we are providing enhanced patient care at a better value for our community.”

Between September 2015 and September 2016, Lakeside Medical Center was among 77 Florida hospitals that worked together on efforts to improve care at the bedside, eliminate care disparities, create a culture of safety for patients and caregivers and promote appropriate use of antibiotics.

The Florida Hospital Association recognized Lakeside Medical Center as one of eight hospitals in the state that achieved 40 percent reduction in harm and 20 percent reduction in readmissions in at least 80 percent of the focus areas, including improving medication safety and preventing hospital readmissions. Lakeside Medical Center is part of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County’s safety net health system.

Photo: Front row, from left: Janet Moreland, ARNP, Interim Director of Nursing, Director of Quality, Patient Safety & Risk; Skip Warne, RN, Nursing Supervisor; Kenzea Osborne, RN, Assistant Manager, OB & Pediatrics; Lyonie Pierre-Vernet, RN, Intensive Care Unit; Scott Chase, RN, Nurse Manager, Emergency Department; Brandy Seider, RN, Assistant Nurse Manager, Surgical Services; Edgerty Pierre-Louis, RN, Nursing Manager, Adult In-Patient Services; Tabatha McAllister, Manager, Patient Access; Sylvia Hall, RN, Quality Improvement Coordinator

Back row, from left: Karen Schutzer, RN, Employee Health; Kimala Harris, DO, Resident