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 More than 130 entries were submitted from 90
healthcare organizations in 24 countries to the international
competition. Awards were given out in four categories. The nonprofit
health system received the runner-up honor in the Quality and Safety
and Patient-Centered Care category.
Memorial Health System's entry was titled "Reaching New Frontiers of
Quality and Safety Using an Innovative 30/30/30 Lean Six Sigma
Approach." Lean Six Sigma is a method to improve performance by
removing waste and reducing variation.
Since launching its Lean Six Sigma program six years ago, Memorial
Health System has completed nearly 400 improvement projects that
"have yielded more than $30 million in savings while transforming
the Memorial performance excellence culture," said Charles Callahan,
executive vice president and chief operating officer for the health
system.
"These efforts have had a major impact on the quality and safety of
the care we provide as well as created positive experiences and
outcomes for our patients," Callahan said.
One of those patients was Sean Lynch, a 50-year-old local radio
personality, who experienced a massive heart attack while setting up
for a pre-party for the band, Foghat, during the Illinois State
Fair. Lynch thought he was merely overheated and needed to catch his
breath and cool down, but his general manager insisted on taking him
to the emergency department at Memorial Medical Center. Lynch had
100 percent blockage in his right coronary artery. He received three
cardiac catheterizations and two stents.
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"I'm grateful for the great care I received," Lynch said.
"Everyone was really straightforward, very informative and extremely caring,
especially the nurses."
This was the first time Memorial Health System had submitted an entry to the
international competition. The health system was encouraged to turn in its
application by the American Hospital Association, which in 2016 recognized
Memorial Medical Center with its Quest for Quality Prize, an honor that's
bestowed upon only one hospital in the nation each year.
"This honor from the International Hospital Federation is recognition of our
staff's dedication to our mission, of the advance of our quality and safety
journey and ultimately of the positive impact Memorial is making in the lives of
the people and communities we serve," Callahan said.
[Michael Leathers, Memorial Health
System]
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