Lakeside Medical Center has been recognized as a 2013 Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by the Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of healthcare organizations in the United States.
Lakeside Medical Center was recognized as part of the Joint Commission’s 2014 annual report, “America’s Hospitals: Improving Quality and Safety,” for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care.
Lakeside Medical Center, owned and operated by the Health Care District of Palm Beach County and the county’s only public hospital, is one of 1,224 hospitals in the United States to achieve the 2013 Top Performer distinction.
“We are honored to receive this distinction from the Joint Commission,” said Ronald J. Wiewora, the district’s chief executive and chief medical officer. “The dedication and commitment of the physicians, nurses and staff at Lakeside Medical Center to provide high-quality acute care in the western, rural region of Palm Beach County known as the Glades is reflected in this exemplary recognition.”
The Top Performer program recognizes hospitals for improving performance on evidence-based interventions that increase the chances of healthy outcomes for patients with certain conditions.
“This national recognition underscores the Health Care District’s commitment to operating a safety-net hospital that provides high-quality care to all citizens of the Glades, including the region’s medically underserved population,” said Carol A. Roberts, chair of the Health Care District Board of Commissioners.
This is the second year Lakeside Medical Center has been recognized as a top performer. Lakeside Medical Center was recognized in 2011 for its performance on accountability measure data for heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care.
“At Lakeside Medical Center, we understand that providing high-quality care and a positive hospital experience are important to our patients,” said Darcy J. Davis, chief financial officer and chief operations officer. “This recognition underscores the commitment our physicians and staff have made to delivering safe, effective, patient-centered care through evidence-based medicine.”
“We are proud of our Lakeside Medical Center staff for receiving this prestigious recognition from The Joint Commission,” added Thomas J. Leach, hospital administrator.
To be a 2013 Top Performer, hospitals had to meet three performance criteria based on 2013 accountability measure data, including: achieving cumulative performance of 95 percent or above across all reported accountability measures; achieving performance of 95 percent or above on each and every reported accountability measure where there were at least 30 denominator cases; and having at least one core measure set that had a composite rate of 95 percent or above, and (within that measure set) all applicable individual accountability measures had a performance rate of 95 percent or above.
“Delivering the right treatment in the right way at the right time is a cornerstone of high-quality health care,” said Mark R. Chassin, president and CEO of the Joint Commission. “I commend the efforts of Lakeside Medical Center for their excellent performance on the use of evidence-based interventions.”
“We are very pleased that Lakeside Medical Center has again been recognized as a Top Performer,” said Juan C. Cocuy, chairman of the Glades Rural Area Support Board, which oversees the 70-bed hospital. “This recognition shows our commitment to continually improving patient outcomes.”
For more information about Lakeside Medical Center, visit www.lakesidemedical.org.
ABOVE: Lakeside Medical Center is Palm Beach County’s only public hospital.
