Howard County General Hospital Recognized for Improving Patient Care, Reducing Infections

From Howard County General Hospital:

Columbia, MD – Howard County General Hospital has received the VHQC Quality Innovation Award for 2015, a notable achievement which recognizes hospitals that are reducing hospital-acquired infections (HAI) and creating a culture of patient safety.

The award was granted to the top 10 percent of hospitals in Maryland and Virginia, based on patient safety and service scores.

“The patient experience and patient safety are our primary focus at Howard County General Hospital,” said Steven C. Snelgrove, president. “We are proud to be recognized for the steps we take every day to ensure we are providing the highest quality care to our patients.”

All hospitals enrolled in the VHQC Maryland-Virginia HAI Improvement Network were eligible based on 2015 calendar year performance. Hospitals were evaluated using data from two sources: the Targeted Assessment for Prevention, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems. Only four awards were granted in Maryland.

For nearly two years, Howard County General Hospital has participated in the HAI Improvement Network, led by VHQC. As the Medicare Quality Innovation Network for Maryland and Virginia, VHQC convenes patients, clinicians and partners to rapidly spread best practices for improving health quality.

Photo: VHQC representative Katherine Richards (center) presents the Quality Innovation Award to Steven C. Snelgrove (left), president of Howard County General Hospital, and Digna Pearson (right), interim senior director for Outcomes Management. Photo courtesy of Howard County General Hospital.