Summit Medical named a top performer

Summit Medical Center has been named one of the nation’s top performers on key quality measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America.

Summit, located in Van Buren and operated by Naples, Fla.-based Health Management Associates, was recognized by The Joint Commission based on data reported about evidence-based clinical procedures that are shown to improve care for certain conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care and children’s asthma.

The hospital is one of only 405 U.S. hospitals and critical access hospitals earning the distinction of top performer on key quality measures for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance. Inclusion on the list is based on an aggregation of accountability measure data reported to The Joint Commission during the previous calendar year. For example, this first recognition program is based on data reported for 2010.

To be recognized as a top performer on key quality measures an organization must meet two 95 percent performance thresholds. First it must achieve a composite performance of 95 percent or above after the results of all the accountability measures for which it reports data to The Joint Commission were factored into a single score, including measures that had less than 30 eligible cases or patients. Second it must meet or exceed a 95 percent performance target for every single accountability measure for which it reports data, excluding any measures with less than 30 eligible cases or patients.

Summit Medical Center was recognized for achieving these thresholds for Pneumonia.

“We understand that what matters most to our patients at Summit Medical Center is safe, effective care,” Harlo McCall, chief nursing officer at Summit, said in a statement. “That’s why Summit Medical Center has made a commitment to accreditation and to positive patient outcomes through evidence-based care processes. Summit Medical Center is proud to be named to the list of The Joint Commission’s Top Performers on Key Quality Measures.”