Memorial Hermann-TMC Receives Health Quality Institute Award

Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center has received the TMF Health Quality Institute's 2007 Texas Health Care Quality Improvement Award of Excellence, the institute's highest honor. Memorial Hermann-TMC is one of the primary teaching hospitals of The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

The awards recognize hospitals that have rated between 90 and 100 percent based on national quality measures of performance. In particular, the award acknowledges hospitals for improving care related to heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia - which have been designated national health care priorities by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Joint Commission. The Joint Commission is the nation's accrediting body in health care.

"With the support of our partners at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, we have been - and continue to be - vigilant about ensuring that known quality improvement measures are followed consistently," said Tom Flanagan, chief operating officer of Memorial Hermann-TMC. "And while I'm pleased with the recognition we have received as a team, our patients have been the real winners."

To achieve performance goals, interdisciplinary teams of hospital employees and medical staff physicians ensure that patients receive consistent, high quality medical care.

Four additional hospitals in the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System were among 63 Texas hospitals receiving the Award of Excellence June 28 at a special ceremony in Austin. One Memorial Hermann hospital was among 25 receiving the Achievement Award. Some 390 Texas hospitals were eligible for consideration.

"With this significant achievement, it is clear these hospitals are focused on providing the highest quality care to their patients. They recognize quality improvement is not about data, but about people," said Tom Manley, chief executive officer of TMF Health Quality Institute.

TMF Health Quality Institute, formerly Texas Medical Foundation, is an Austin-based nonprofit consulting company focused on promoting quality health and health care through contracts with federal, state and local governments, as well as private organizations. TMF established the award program in partner-ship with Texas Hospital Association, Texas Medical Association, Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals and Texas Osteopathic Medical Association.

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