FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2006
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Robbins Announces Quality Improvement Grant for Meadville Medical Center

Meadville – State Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) today joined officials from the Meadville Medical Center to announce a $400,000 state grant that will assist the Medical Center in establishing a pilot program for community hospitals.

This grant will allow the Meadville Medical Center personnel to partner with quality and patient safety experts from both Baylor and Jefferson Medical College to improve overall quality and safety care.  "This project is the first being made available to Pennsylvania hospitals that will offer extensive hospital-based quality improvements," stated Robbins.  "I am pleased that Meadville Medical Center is willing to participate in this very important program that will have a long lasting impact not only on the Medical Center, but on other hospitals in the Commonwealth as well."

Baylor's "Accelerating Best Care" program, popularly known as ABC-Baylor is a rapid-cycle quality improvement education program.  Its primary goal is to help medical professionals and administrators improve clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, financial outcomes and other areas of quality care by teaching clinicians and administrators about the cultural changes needed to improve quality and to give them the practical tools to accomplish their goals.

"This approach is designed to further accelerate patient care quality and safety improvements in our region," stated David E.  McNamara, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs of the Meadville Medical Center.  "I am excited to be a part of a project which combines the world-class quality improvement strategies of Baylor University School of Medicine, the leadership of Thomas Jefferson University, and the forward thinking or our legislature.  I commend Senator Bob Robbins for making this opportunity available to Meadville Medical Center and to our community.  We have assembled our team and are moving in a positive direction.  We hope to produce outcomes which can be replicated throughout the Commonwealth.

Senator Robbins was able to secure an appropriation of $1.6 million in the Department of Health's budget for this pilot program.  The remaining $1.2 million will be split evenly between Baylor Health Care System, Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia and Greater Hazleton Health Alliance in northeastern Pennsylvania.

CONTACT:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322

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