Dick Davidson Quality Milestone Award for Allied Association Leadership Recognizes Efforts to Improve Health Care Quality

The Kansas Hospital Association is pleased to announce that it is one of three state associations recognized for its leadership and innovation in quality improvement and safety. The Maryland Hospital Association is the 2016 recipient of the Dick Davidson Quality Milestone Award for Allied Association Leadership. The Kansas Hospital Association and the Ohio Hospital Association were selected as honorable mentions for the 2016 award. The award will be presented at the 2016 Health Forum-AHA Leadership Summit in San Diego on July 17.

“Kansas leads by example, offering resources that inspire the hospitals to do all they can for their patients,” said Tom Bell, KHA president and CEO. “KHA is proud of hospitals’ participation in state and national quality initiatives and encouraged by the positive impact on the delivery of care.”

In 2008, the KHA and the Kansas Medical Society joined forces to establish Kansas as a top-performer in health care outcomes. This unique collaboration resulted in the creation of the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative, a non-profit entity governed by hospital and physician leaders. Together, KHA, KMS and KHC are leading meaningful health care quality improvement programs for hospitals and physicians across the state.

KHC is now one of three organizations leading both a statewide Hospital Engagement Network (HEN), as well as a Practice Transformation Network (PTN) for physician practices. Both are national initiatives funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Since 2011, KHA and KHC have successfully partnered with the AHA and the Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET). By April 2016, more than 1,000 physicians statewide committed to participate in the PTN.

KHA worked hand-in-hand with KHC to convene the Kansas HEN, one of more than 30 state hospital association-based networks, partnering with AHA and HRET to form the largest HEN in the nation through the CMS’ Partnership for Patients. With 106 hospitals participating in the Kansas HEN 2.0, Kansas represents the second largest state within the AHA/HRET HEN. Hospitals in the Kansas HEN represent over 5,000 inpatient beds, nearly 700,000 inpatient days and 140,000 discharges in 2014.

Through 2014, KHA and KHC, with the AHA/HRET HEN and other quality programs, has improved patient care in Kansas by reducing central line-associated blood stream infections by 48 percent, catheter-associated urinary tract infections by 30 percent, early-elective deliveries by 72 percent and surgical site infections by 33 percent. The collaborative teamwork, accountability and leadership of the Kanas HEN resulted in prevention of an estimated 3,800 safety events (including readmissions) at an estimated cost savings of more than $23.2 million.


About the AHA

The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 43,000 individual members. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA website at www.aha.org.

About the KHA

The Kansas Hospital Association is a voluntary, non-profit organization existing to be the leading advocate and resource for members. KHA membership includes 211 member facilities, of which 126 are full-service, community hospitals. Founded in 1910, KHA’s vision is: “Optimal Health for Kansans.” For more information, visit the KHA website at www.kha-net.org.

About the KHC

KHC is a provider-led 501(c)3 organization with a mission to transform health care through patient-centered initiatives that improve quality, safety and value. Founded in 2008 by the Kansas Hospital Association and the Kansas Medical Society, KHC embodies the commitment of two of the state’s leading health care provider groups to act as a resource and continuously enhance the quality of care provided to Kansans. For more information, visit the KHC website at www.khconline.org.