Setting the Bar for World-Class Care
WellStar consistently receives attention and accolades from national organizations that set standards for world-class care. Our system-wide practice of safety principles, assessing and addressing errors and seeking feedback from our patients and customers continually earns recognition for significant advances in safety and quality.
Awards
WellStar was recognized and received several awards at the 2011 Annual VHA Leadership Expo.
- President’s Award 1st Place - WellStar Cobb Hospital for Blood Conservation Improving Safety & Quality Through Evidence-based Electronic Order Sets
- Most Sustainable Award 1st Place -WellStar Health System for Reduction of Elective Deliveries Before 39 Weeks Gestation
- Best Overall Award 1st Place - WellStar Cobb Hospital for Blood Conservation Improving Safety & Quality Through Evidence-based Electronic Order Sets
- Most Innovative Award 2nd Place -WellStar Cobb Hospital for Blood Conservation Improving Safety & Quality Through Evidence-based Electronic Order Sets
- Most Transferable Award 2nd Place - WellStar Cobb Hospital for Radiology Ambassador Program
- Best Results/Outcomes Award 3rd Place - WellStar Paulding Hospital for Administrative Approach to Physician Engagement Physician Engagement
In 2010, VHA recognized hospitals for improving their supply chain performance, clinical care, operational efficiency and community benefit performance. WellStar received the following recognition:
- New and Improved Value Analysis Program: Supply Chain
- Operating Room Inventory Redesign/Reduction/Management Project: Supply Chain
- Providing Safe Care by Reducing Incidence of Clostridium Difficile: Clinical Care
- Sustaining and Improving Financial Performance through Systemwide Improvement Initiative: Operational EfficiencyEngagement Physician Engagement
WellStar Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone and Paulding were named to the Georgia Hospital Association’s (GHA) Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) Quality Honor Roll for CY 2010. They were all recognized on the Presidential Honor Roll, the second highest recognition.
WellStar Health System has participated in The Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) Safety Program since its inception.
WellStar received three prestigious Quality and Patient Safety Awards from the PHA for 2010:
- WellStar received the Circle of Excellence Award for demonstrating sustained commitment to quality and patient safety.
- WellStar received 3rd Place for Reducing Healthcare Associated Clostridium Difficile infection.
- WellStar Paulding Hospital received 2nd Place for Redesigning the Discharge Process to reduce readmission and improve Patient Care.
WellStar received three prestigious Quality and Patient Safety Awards from the PHA for 2009:
- WellStar received the Circle of Excellence Award for demonstrating sustained commitment to quality and patient safety.
- WellStar Paulding Hospital received 2nd place for Reducing Incidence of Healthcare Associated Clostridium Difficile Infection.
WellStar received 3rd place for implementing a Blood Management Program to Improve Patient Safety.
Kennestone Hospital’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit was named as a national Top Performer (in the top ten percent) for three consecutive years for rehabilitation patient outcomes by Uniform Data System, Inc.
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines® (GWTG) Stroke Program Awards is earned for the number of months WellStar meets GWTG goals for patient care aligned with the latest scientific guidelines:
- Kennestone Hospital received the Gold level award.
- Cobb Hospital received the Bronze level award
- Douglas Hospital received the Bronze level award
WellStar Kennestone Hospital was awarded the Top Tier 3 Star rating for cardiac surgery for the second time by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). Only the top 13% of hospitals in the nation were awarded this distinction. This is based on the National Quality Measure covering the period July 1, 2010 through June 31, 2011.
WellStar Kennestone Hospital’s Blue Critical Care Unit Received the Beacon Award from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) for Critical Care Excellence for Fall of 2010. As a recipient, this unit demonstrates quantitative success measured against evidence-based national criteria in six areas impacting patient care.
Recognition
WellStar has been recognized as one of Surveillance Data, Inc.’s (SDI) Top 100 Integrated Healthcare Networks in the U.S. and the highest ranked health system in Georgia.
WellStar Kennestone Hospital’s Joint Replacement and Spinal Surgery programs have also received Blue Cross Program of Excellence recognition. WellStar Cobb Hospital’s Joint Program received Blue Cross Program of Excellence recognition.
WellStar has earned recognition for meeting the national standards for Diabetes Self-management Education from the American Diabetes Association.
WellStar Windy Hill Hospital earned recognition by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement for reducing healthcare-associated infections.
WellStar Health System has joined the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare's Healing Healthcare Partnership™, a campaign that brings together healthcare organizations and industry to improve patient safety and lower the cost of healthcare.
WellStar Kennestone Hospital has been designated as a Robotic Epicenter by Intuitive Surgical Inc., the maker of the da Vinci® Surgical System, for gynecological surgery in recognition of the hospital’s commitment to excellence in robotic surgery. Kennestone is one of only 21 hospitals in the U.S. to earn this designation and becomes a destination for surgeons from around the country to observe and learn robot-assisted gynecological procedures.
For seven consecutive years the American Association for Respiratory Care (QRCR) named WellStar a Quality Respiratory Care Institution. Only 700 of 5000 U.S. hospitals achieve this distinction.
WellStar Community Hospice has been named a national partner of We Honor Veterans, a pioneering campaign developed by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The campaign provides recognition to organizations that demonstrate a systematic commitment to improving care for veterans.
We have earned 2010 Top Ten honors by Working Mother magazine’s annual 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers program.
AARP has recognized WellStar as one of the nation’s Best Employers for Workers Over 50.
WellStar has been selected for the Center for Companies that Care’s Honor Roll.
We have been awarded When Work Work’s Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility.
We are proud to be recognized by the Dave Thomas Foundation as a Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces Top 100 company.
WellStar was named for a second time in 2011 to the NAFE Top 50 Companies and 10 Nonprofits for Executive Women by the National Association for Female Executives. The list recognizes organizations whose policies and practices encourage women’s advancement and whose numbers at the highest levels of leadership demonstrate that commitment.
WellStar Information Technology was one of 25 healthcare information technology departments in the nation recognized by Hospitals & Health Networks Magazine as “Most Improved” from 2009 to 2010.
WellStar Laundry was honored by AquaRecycle® with “their highest award of excellence for reducing water usage as well as reductions in energy used to heat water.”