January 08, 2010

After A Year Of Proud Moments, It's Still About Our Patients

Genesis Health System had many proud moments that shaped the past year. From new technology to medical expansions to a broadening network of providers, the health system has advanced care in the Quad Cities in the face of a challenging economy.

Yet at the close of a year of progress, the greatest accomplishment is measured in the expressions of gratitude from our patients and their families.

One such example came recently from a woman who spent several days on the Medical/Surgical Unit at the Genesis, West Central Park campus in Davenport.

"I was impressed with the good treatment I received from the time I was admitted until I left," she wrote in a letter of appreciation. "There must have been 50 people helping with my care - RNs, aides, meal servers, physical therapists, volunteers. Considering the law of averages, there couldn't be that many people without troubles in their lives. But each of them came in with smiles and pleasantries as if I was the only sick person in the hospital."

Many patients have echoed similar expressions of gratitude over the course of Genesis' 140-year tradition in the community. It's the result of continual efforts to improve service and quality.

A year of recognition Genesis' recognition for providing "An Outstanding Patient Experience" under the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital Program culminates a year of awards and recognition.

• Genesis Health System was selected as a silver award recipient of the 2009 Iowa Recognition for Performance Excellence Awards, Iowa's premier award recognizing higher performance management principles. Only four Iowa organizations received gold or silver recognition for 2009. This recognition is part of Genesis' goal to one day earn a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
• Genesis was recognized among the nation's Top 100 and Top 50 health systems for clinical quality and efficiency.

Other honors included:

• 100 Most Wired Health System for the sixth straight year;
• Three designations of excellence for the Genesis Center for Bariatric Surgery;
• Top rankings for the Genesis heart program from the Society for Thoracic Surgeons, United Healthcare and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa;
• Top 500 ranking for Genesis VNA and Hospice;
• The Consumer Choice Award for the eighth straight year;
• Top quality ratings in government surveys for Genesis long-term care facilities Illini Restorative Care in Silvis and Westwing Place in DeWitt.
• Genesis Medical Center, Davenport became the first and only hospital in the Quad Cities area to earn national distinction as a Joint Commission Certified Primary Stroke Center, in addition to receiving the American Stroke Association's Get with the Guidelines-Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award.

Genesis Medical Center, Davenport, continues to maintain Magnet designation, which recognizes the highest standard in nursing.