Memorial Healthcare System Honored for Commitment to Quality by the American Hospital Association

Memorial Healthcare System has been recognized for its leadership and innovation in quality and performance improvement as a finalist for the American Hospital Association’s Quest for Quality Prize. Memorial is a finalist along with two other hospitals and health systems across the nation.

The American Hospital Association Quest for Quality Prize recognizes health care leadership and innovation in improving quality and advancing health in communities. The Quest for Quality Prize was first awarded in 2002. The prize is sponsored by RLDatix. This year’s recipients will be honored on July 28 at the virtual AHA 2021 Leadership Summit.

“This year’s finalists have been remarkable leaders in elevating the quality of care they provide each day to their patients and communities. During the pandemic – when they were experiencing surges in patients – they employed innovative techniques to ensure the highest quality of care for COVID-19 patients,” said Rick Pollack, AHA’s president and CEO. “Their organization-wide commitments to excellence in improving care and health are a model for the entire hospital field.”

Memorial Healthcare System plays a leading role in pandemic response efforts in Florida, including partnering with the Florida National Guard and other community organizations. During the pandemic, the system made a concerted effort to keep patients connected with their families virtually while in the hospital, realizing how critical this was to their well-being. Memorial Healthcare System also worked closely with local nursing homes, bringing in infectious disease staff to educate nursing home workers on how to reduce infection rates, reflecting the system’s long-standing commitment not only to safety, but to its community.

As part of its philosophy to make its communities healthier, Memorial Healthcare System uses social determinants of health and other community data to identify patient and family needs and other societal factors influencing health. This has led to efforts such as providing free diapers to needy families, organizing life skills trainings, setting up a prayer line for spiritual needs, running a neonatal abstinence syndrome program, going door-to-door to help eligible people sign up for Affordable Care Act coverage, and helping with food outreach and supporting local food banks. The system has also provided well-being resources for caregivers and staff and has established an employee culture that is self-driven and focuses on accountability.

Yale New Haven Health and Yuma Regional Medical Center were also recognized by the American Hospital Association.