The Prestigious Vizient Quality Leadership Award
Fairview Range secured recognition as a Vizient 2023 Top Performer among community hospitals, earning the distinguished Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award. Our hospital claimed the 22nd spot out of 333 participating community hospital cohorts in the 2023 Quality and Accountability Ranking.
Vizient, a data-driven solutions company serving over 5,000 not-for-profit health system members, annually acknowledges leaders in clinical quality and accountability, supplier diversity, and environmentally preferred sourcing. Fairview Range proudly received this accolade in Las Vegas during the Connections Summit held on Sept. 18-21, 2023.
Vizient Quality and Accountability Study
Vizient’s Quality and Accountability Study identifies the top performers for the Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award. The study employs six domains to gauge patient care performance:
- Mortality: How we deliver the patient’s care for end of life.
- Efficiency: Avoiding waste, including waste of equipment, supplies, ideas, and energy.
- Effectiveness: Length of stay and cost of care.
- Patient-centeredness: Providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values and ensuring that patient values guide all clinical decisions.
- Safety: Avoiding harm to patients from the care intended to help them.
- Equity of care: Providing care that does not vary in quality because of personal characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, geographic location, and socioeconomic status.
Strategic Deployment and Accountability
At the forefront of this achievement is Angela Olson, RN, the Manager of Quality and Performance Improvement for inpatient and ambulatory services. With thirty-one years of nursing experience in rural health settings, Olson brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for quality improvement.
Olson oversees the quality for inpatient and ambulatory services, prioritizing patient safety. Focusing on mortality and safety has been instrumental in achieving this award.
Focusing on Improving End-of-Life Care:
Under Olson’s leadership, Fairview Range implemented tools to assess the likelihood of mortality, reviewing 100% of mortality cases. Emphasizing the importance of end-of-life care plans and revitalizing inpatient hospice programs demonstrates our commitment to honoring patients’ choices during challenging times.
Focusing on Enhanced Safety Measures:
Fairview Range’s dedication to safety is evident in our proactive approach to preventing conditions and infections. There have been zero reportable pressure injuries in the last five years, and C-Dif infections have been reduced to zero in the past year. Our frontline staff plays a crucial role in preventive care.
Pictured left to right: Fairview Range Quality team members – Katie Verhel, Angela Olson, and Emily Telthoester
Pictured above: Members of our Emergency Department team, Quality team, and Leadership team
“It’s not just the trophy, it’s people’s lives. It’s the Quality that we’ve driven, the safety in our organization; it’s the drive for patient experience.”
– Angela Olson, RN, Manager of Quality and Performance Improvement
Our Commitment to the Community
Fairview Range’s dedication to excellence in healthcare has positively impacted the local community, significantly improving the well-being of residents in rural areas. Securing the 2023 Vizient Quality Leadership Award has elevated our status as a top-performing community hospital, directly translating into positive outcomes for the community. Our commitment to patient-centered care, safety measures, and efficiency fosters a healthier community where individuals feel supported and cared for during routine health care needs and challenging times.
Fairview Range also collaborates with Grand Itasca on strategic deployment initiatives, reflecting our commitment to quality and safety and driving outcomes for our patients throughout our communities.
Our Commitment to the Future
Fairview Range is embarking on future initiatives to enhance end-of-life care, recognizing its critical impact on overall mortality. We are dedicated to providing excellent support that honors patients’ wishes during challenging times. Future endeavors include a strengthened emphasis on end-of-life care through meticulous documentation and integrating general inpatient hospice services through a partnership with Fairview Range Hospice. By aligning with expert service lines like hospice, we strive to deliver the highest quality of care at the end of life. Our dedication is to provide compassionate and personalized end-of-life support for our community.
Looking Forward
Fairview Range is a beacon of quality and patient-centered care in health care. The Quality Leadership Award from Vizient is not just a recognition of achievement but a testament to the unwavering commitment of Angie Olson and the entire team at Fairview Range. Our journey extends beyond accolades, emphasizing the profound impact on the lives of those we serve. Fairview Range remains devoted to continuous improvement, collaboration, and a proactive approach to meet the evolving needs of our community. Excited to forge ahead, we build our foundation on compassion and excellence, ensuring our commitment to unparalleled health care remains unwavering for years.
You can support Fairview Range’s Hospice by attending their annual Hearts for Hospice fundraiser on April 5, 2024. More information can be found here if you would like to learn more about this event.
