News Release

Mercy Shares Spotlight in National Quality Award

The National Committee for Quality Health Care (NCQHC) has awarded the prestigious 2004 National Quality Health Care Award to the parent organization (Trinity Health, the Novi, Michigan based healthcare network) with which Mercy Medical Center—Clinton is affiliated.

The award, co-sponsored by Modern Healthcare magazine, is presented to one U.S. healthcare provider each year that “embodies a vision for quality that embraces innovation and forward thinking, and establishes ways to measure and evaluate those processes to benefit the community,” according to the National Committee for Quality Health Care guidelines.

Mercy Medical Center’s parent organization, Trinity Health of Novi, Michigan, is the nation’s third largest Catholic healthcare system. The system operates 45 hospitals, 402 outpatient facilities, numerous long-term care facilities, home health offices and hospice programs.

Mercy Medical Center-Clinton is part of a healthcare system where knowledge and innovative ideas are continually shared among organizations with the goal of achieving and maintaining excellence in the quality of care provided. As part of a system-wide effort, results from patient satisfaction surveys have helped Mercy Medical Center improve its delivery of services.

"Winning this award was a great honor for Trinity Health (Novi, Michigan) and for the many hospitals which are a part of Trinity," said Thomas J. Hesselmann, President and CEO of Mercy Medical Center - Clinton. "This award is a result of the commitment and dedication of our staff members, physicians and board members in Clinton, as well as the other affiliates of Trinity Health who have made quality care a top priority."

"This award recognizes our commitment to continually improve the quality of care we provide to our patients and community. Mercy’s commitment to quality care, exceptional service and patient safety has never been more evident,” said Linda Hoppe, Director of Quality Management.

System-wide quantifiable measures for assessing quality, patient satisfaction and patient safety have been adopted throughout the entire network. Mercy submits data for all of these measures. This allows us to compare our hospital to the other organizations within the system and to share their notable practices as well as to adapt the best practices from other organizations.

"Trinity Health's (the Novi, Michigan based network) recognition as the winner of this year's National Quality Health Care Award is an exclamation point to Mercy Medical Center-Clinton's commitment, both locally and as a part of the Trinity Health (Novi, Michigan) System, to constantly address and improve the quality of care provided to patients in the Clinton facility. As a nine-year Clinton board member, I have had the opportunity to witness and participate in corporate conferences where the quality commitment has always been foremost as well as impressive," said Ron McGauvran, Chairman of the Mercy Medical Center-Clinton Board.

Mercy Medical Center-Clinton believes that patient safety contributes significantly to the overall quality of care delivered to patients at Mercy and within the national health system. For example, Mercy and the other member organizations utilize an electronic system for the anonymous reporting of patient safety issues.

The NCQHC award recognizes the winning organization for demonstrating excellence in quality healthcare delivery through innovative leadership, dedication to using new and emerging technologies to help ensure patient safety, working to establish a healthy and committed workforce, and sound financial practices. The award also recognizes Mercy Medical Center’s employees, and everyone within the parent organization, for leadership in clinical quality and patient safety improvements.

The National Committee for Quality Health Care is an independent, national organization dedicated to ensuring that quality is the cornerstone of healthcare delivery for all. With a unique membership comprised of the top thought-leaders from all sectors of the quality healthcare industry, NCQHC provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and expertise, and works to build constructive cross-industry solutions to the complex challenges of quality healthcare delivery.