November 19 , 2007

Christiana Care Earns The Joint Commission’s 2007 Ernest Amory Codman Award

President Laskowski cites dramatic improvements in treatment of serious infection as reason for recognition.

On 11/8/07, Christiana Care President and CEO Robert J. Laskowski announced that The Joint Commission had awarded his health system the enviable 2007 Ernest Amory Codman Award.  Laskowski called the award, “one of the most prestigious health care quality awards in the nation.”

“My colleagues and I are deeply honored by this recognition. The Codman Award reminds us of the good that we in the health profession can do when we share our talent and expertise,” said Laskowski. “The Codman Award inspires us to continue to be tireless in our pursuit of excellence.”

Christiana was recognized for an initiative to improve care for patients with sepsis, the leading cause of death for patients in intensive care units. Congratulations to the Crothall Environmental Services team, lead by Director Rick Olivere, who play a starring role in assuring the facility’s sanitation and infection control on an everyday basis.

From Christiana's website article, located at http://www.christianacare.com/body.cfm?id=66&action=detail&ref=244

Named for the physician considered the ‘father of hospital outcomes measurement,’ the award showcases the effective use of performance measurement by health care organizations to improve the quality and safety of health care. Christiana was recognized for an initiative to improve care for patients with sepsis, the leading cause of death for patients in intensive care units. The program resulted in reduced mortality rate for patients with severe sepsis to 30.2 percent from 61.7 percent during a two-year period.

Christiana Care formed an interdisciplinary team in 2004 to address three major areas of sepsis care: identification of patients with sepsis, resuscitation strategies, and ICU management. The resulting ‘Sepsis Alert’ program for all patients includes care management guidelines, treatment algorithms, order sets, kits with single-dose vials of antibiotics, and multidisciplinary education about sepsis and the importance of prompt, aggressive management.

Christiana Care’s program reduced the average length of hospital stay by 22.3 percent and increased patients discharged to home by 197.2 percent. Other improvements include increases (from 86 percent to 97 percent) in patients receiving antibiotic therapy within the first hour before or after issuance of a Sepsis Alert; decreased average time from emergency department triage to first antibiotic administration from 2.9 hours to less than two hours) and an increased percentage of patients receiving fluid resuscitation (92 percent to 100 percent).

Christiana Care will formally receive the award on Nov. 12, during The Joint Commission and Joint Commission Resources’ Annual Conference on Quality and Safety in Chicago.