October 2024
BCH Awarded Quest for Excellence Quality Award
Beatrice Community Hospital was awarded the 2024 Quest for Excellence award at the Nebraska Hospital Association convention in October for its quality improvement project, “Patients without Primary Care Providers in the Emergency Department.”
The quality improvement project focused on finding a way to ensure patients who come to the Emergency Department get timely follow-up care with a primary care provider. BCH felt this was a concern due to the high cost of ED care for community members, and patients not getting appropriate follow-up and preventative care for improved long-term health. After eight months, a total of 139 new unique patients were established with a primary care provider, allowing BCH to better support community members in receiving comprehensive care.
“BCH is committed to improving quality and patient care,” said Angie Barber, Director of Quality. “We are focused on constant improvement; always looking at areas of opportunity to get better.”
The Quest for Excellence award showcases exemplary and reproducible models of patient care to the rest of the healthcare community. The award was developed in 2004 to recognize and reward hospitals for their quality improvement achievements.
In addition to the award plaque, each winning hospital received a $2,000 cash prize. BCH members were recognized at the Nebraska Hospital Association convention banquet as the winner in the Critical Access Hospital category.
BCH project team members were Jan Rains, Kayleigh Allen, Angie Othmer, Tasha Hesman, Kenzie Maryska, Kelsey Rengstorf, Lori Koch, Patty Hortman, Lindsey Zimmerman, Chelsea Larmeu and Dr. Charles Tomek.
