Mountain-Pacific Quality Health recognized Powell Valley Healthcare with a 2019 Hospital Quality Excellence Award for outstanding performance in effectively using quality assurance performance improvement methodologies to improve care practices.

Powell Valley Healthcare was one of eight hospitals honored during this year’s Wyoming Quality Health Care Conference.

The award was related to the work PVHC did with its Patient Family Engagement Council, developed to involve patients and families in their care and get their feedback about healthcare decisions at the organization.

“The voices of patients and families are essential to improve the quality and safety of healthcare. PVHC wants our patients and their families to be part of our healthcare team,” said Sara Welling, quality improvement director.

Welling said the council gives patients and families an opportunity to share their stories and participate in improvement efforts. The input PVHC receives then directs areas of improvement on which the organization will focus its efforts.

To be eligible for this award, winners had to meet six categories of criteria, including antibiotic stewardship elements, patient and family engagement activities, care coordination elements and leadership qualities. Awardees also had to exhibit strong leadership support for providing quality care.

Mountain-Pacific Quality Health also recognized Powell Valley Care Center as one of seven Wyoming nursing homes to meet the qualifications of the Innovator Quality Award, recognizing nursing homes for outstanding performance.

Powell Valley Care Center received the award during a June 25 conference in Casper.

“Winning this award was definitely a team effort. We want to recognize everyone working at the Care Center,” said Ryan Brinkerhoff, care center administrator

The staff’s efforts helped decrease falls with major injury at the facility. Staff education on falls, staff awareness, post fall huddles, review of falls in daily huddle, and the work of the falls committee are a few of the things that helped achieve this award.

“I think the main thing that helped was that everyone cares about our residents and their overall safety,” Brinkerhoff said.