Fourteen New York Healthcare Providers and Professionals Receive 2011 IPRO Quality Awards for Measurable Improvements in Care

Awards Presented at 27th Annual Meeting

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fourteen healthcare organizations from throughout New York State have been named recipients of the 2011 IPRO Quality Awards. The awards, given annually by IPRO, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) and Medicaid Review Agent for New York State, recognize providers and professionals who demonstrate a commitment to improving the quality of care provided to New York's Medicare beneficiaries and Medicaid recipients.  The awards were given during IPRO's 27th Annual Meeting, June 7th at the LaGuardia Marriott Hotel.

"These awardees represent a broad cross section of New York State's healthcare community," says Clare B. Bradley MD, MPH, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, IPRO.  "But what unites them is their commitment to quality.  We applaud them for their achievements."

Awards were given for accomplishments on a range of quality-related projects:

As the Medicare QIO for New York State, IPRO's activities target the quality of healthcare provided to the state's more than 2.9 million Medicare beneficiaries. IPRO supports providers with evidence-based clinical interventions and objective expertise to improve healthcare processes and patient care.  Those receiving Quality Awards have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to implementing best practices, which have led to  measurable improvements in care, with outcomes that include: reduction in the incidence and transmission of MRSA as well as improvements in surgical care processes in hospitals; increased use of preventive services and testing; reduction in avoidable hospital readmissions; reduction of harmful drug interactions; early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and improvement of care for patients with CKD; improvements in patient safety in nursing homes; and the implementation of the patient-centered medical home, which creates a partnership between patients and their primary care physicians.

In addition to the awards ceremony, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Executive Officer, Dennis E. Gonzalez, presented the new public-private Partnership for Patients, which brings together leaders of healthcare organizations to make healthcare safer, more reliable and less costly. IPRO is pleased to join more than 1,000 hospitals across the nation and nearly 200 healthcare professionals and organizations throughout New York State in support of the Partnership.

Dr. William Winkenwerder, Jr., Chairman of The Winkenwerder Company, who during his tenure with the Department of Defense led the implementation of a worldwide electronic health record (EHR) system, delivered the Annual Meeting's keynote address: "Will Information Technology Transform the American Healthcare System?" His presentation focused on such topics as the convergence of medicine and health information technology, achieving "meaningful use" with an EHR system, and healthcare reform and its potential impact on health IT.

To download a copy of his presentation, visit www.ipro.org.

About IPRO

IPRO is a national organization providing a full spectrum of healthcare assessment and improvement services that foster more efficient use of resources and enhance healthcare quality to achieve better patient outcomes. For more than 25 years, IPRO has been highly regarded for the independence of its approach, the depth of its knowledge and experience, and the integrity of its programs. With annual revenues of $60 million, IPRO holds contracts with federal, state and local government agencies and corporate clients, in more than 33 states and the District of Columbia. A not-for-profit organization, IPRO is headquartered in Lake Success, NY with offices in Albany, NY, and near Raleigh, NC.

For more information about IPRO, please visit www.ipro.org.

This material was prepared by IPRO, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for New York State, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. 9SOW-NY-THMS-6-7-11-04

SOURCE IPRO