Quality at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial

For the past two (2) years, several quality awards have recognized Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial for the quality of care it provides and for patient satisfaction. There are specific, factual reasons for these awards, all of which are based on data and statistics which are part of the public record. We are creating an environment of high quality and safety that is being recognized in many ways:

Governor’s Award for Clinical Excellence for improving Patient Care in Heart Failure, Pneumonia and Acute MI. Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial also received the Governor’s Recognition of Excellence for being a top performer. These awards were bestowed because Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial exceeded rigorous standards of measurement by MPRO, the Michigan organization that tracks state-wide data. Click here for more information.

HealthGrades 5-star Awards for Pulmonary Care and Hip Replacement Surgery. This award was based upon 3 years of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) patient data comparing over 5,000 hospitals across the country. Click here for more information: www.healthgrades.com

HealthGrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award (awarded to only 11 hospitals in Michigan). This award was based on the HCAHPS Patient Satisfaction Survey—feedback from our own patients! Click here for more information.

101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in West Michigan. This award is based on both the data provided to the judging group about our low turn-over rates and quality of our benefits, etc., and also an Associate Survey sent to over 100 Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial Associates.

National Rural Healthcare Association (NRHA) Outstanding Rural Hospital for 2008, based on information and data supplied to the NRHA’s judging group about innovation/wellness. Click here for more information about HRHA

Spirit of Women Distinguished Award under the Standards of Excellence Program. This award was based on an exhaustive compilation of information on Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial processes and community collaboration related to all aspects of women’s health. Click here for more information about Spirit of Women Programs with Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial.

Keystone Project
Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial has participated in the Keystone Center for Patient Safety & Quality initiative for the past five (5) years. A division of the Michigan Hospital Association (MHA) Health Foundation, the MHA Keystone Center brings together hospitals and national experts to address the quality of health care delivery. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan joined their quality mission in 2006 by earmarking $6 million to fund quality and safety initiatives to be coordinated by the center. Gerber Memorial has been involved with Keystone since the first initiative, Keystone: ICU, was launched in 2003. They are currently involved in the Keystone: Hospital-Associated Infections and Keystone: Surgery projects.

“Keystone has helped us improve quality of care, implement evidence-based practices and educate our staff, as well as keeping us on the cutting-edge of clinical practices. They keep us focused on collecting information that is truly important — data that can help us improve patient care.”
-Barb Wainright, director of quality management, Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial

Milestones in the Patient Safety Movement: 1999 - 2009 (PDF)

Click here for more information about the Keystone Project.

Safety at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial

Safety is a way of life at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial. As one of our three (3), ongoing, strategic goals Gerber memorial Associates (employees) are charged to continually ask, “How will I embrace Safety as a way of life at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial”? Do I always follow Safety Policies? Do I follow best medical practice standards every time? Then no harm is done. Safety should be “what we do and who we are all the time,” CEO Randy Stasik has stated repeatedly.

The CORE VALUES - Teamwork, Integrity, Efficiency, Service (TIES) - at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial drive our focus on quality and safety:

• Teamwork
  -Open and honest communication
  -Individuals and their ideas are valued
• Integrity
  -Work ethic
  -Accountability
• Efficiency
  -Commitment to manage resources
  -Appropriate and affordable health care
• Service
  -Courtesy
  -Respect

The Quality Management Department coordinates Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial's vision and values with the QM Committee structure that monitors the quality of patient care given at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial.

Utilization Review works closely with the physicians and insurance companies to ensure that patient care meets the insurance companies' guidelines for an acute care setting. Any discussion between insurance companies and physicians is coordinated through this department.

Any questions can be directed to the Quality Management Department at (231) 924-1390.