Posted in: Triangle Times Today
Volume 1 | Issue 4 | August 2022
Kershner Winners Shine at August Program
During the virtual Achieving Accreditation in August, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) revealed the winners of the Bernard A. Kershner Innovations in Quality Improvement (QI) Award. The annual award presentation shines a spotlight on surgical/procedural and primary care health care organizations across the country for their exemplary QI studies.
The Award, named for the late Bernard A. Kershner, a leader in ambulatory
health care and a distinguished past chair of the AAAHC Institute Board of
Trustees, recognizes AAAHC-accredited organizations that successfully implement
meaningful changes in their operations to boost quality of care, patient safety,
and overall efficiency through quality improvement (QI). This prestigious award
program celebrates the pursuit of quality improvement in health care delivery.
2022 KERSHNER AND PEOPLE’S CHOICE RECIPIENTS
University Health Services, University of Oregon won the award for the primary
care category. Its study, “Towards a Culture of Best Practice Antibiotic Stewardship:
Treatment of Acute Bronchitis,” addressed antibiotic (mis)use in the setting of
uncomplicated acute bronchitis. Using data analysis to establish a measurement
baseline, the team instituted strategies including patient education and staff
communication. By the third year of the study, 89% of students were treated for
uncomplicated acute bronchitis without the use of antibiotics, reaching their goal.
Knoxville Ophthalmology ASC, LLC received the Kershner award in the
surgical/procedural category for “Prevention of Endophthalmitis.” The study focused
on preventing postoperative surgical site infections and complications. Following
process improvement and continuous monitoring, the facility surpassed the Quality
Benchmarking Report average infection rate of 0.223, achieving zero infections.
AAAHC also announced the results for the People’s Choice awards which resulted
from ballots cast through a secure, monitored platform to ensure integrity of the
process. People’s Choice honors the two studies garnering the most votes from
peer organizations.
Springfield Clinic took the People’s Choice award for its study, “Improving Quality
Care Gap Closure Rates in the Primary Care Setting.” In the surgical/procedural
category, the nod went to New York Center for Ambulatory Surgery for “Quality
Improvement Study: Clinical Record Compliance Utilizing Preoperative-OR Handoff.”
AAAHC thanks all organizations that participated and looks forward to 2023.
Submissions opened August 8. Check the AAAHC website for the latest information
and links.
Get inspired by past Kershner honorees. View the 2022 study posters and Kershner
winners through the years at www.aaahc.org/quality-institute/kershner-qi-award/
Conferences & Exhibits
• TASCS
Aug 22–23
• NACHC
Aug 28–30
• CASA
Sep 7–9
• NAWHC
Sep 8–9
• Becker’s ASC Business and Operations of ASCs
Oct 27–28
1095 Learn
• Achieving Accreditation Onsite
Las Vegas, Dec 2–3
For more information about all of our programs, including
Achieving Accreditation, please click here.
