Shepherd Center named to the prestigious "Elite Circle"

Shepherd Center has been named to the prestigious "Elite Circle" of Georgia Hospital Association's (GHA) Hospital Engagement Network (HEN). The designation is a result of Shepherd Center's accomplishments in the patient safety arena in 2012. The elite circle is the highest category in the recognition program. Only 13 other hospitals in Georgia finished in the elite category and Shepherd Center is the only hospital in the Atlanta metro area to rank in the category. Additionally, to qualify for this category a hospital's total Recognition points must be in the top 90th percentile.

The Hospital Engagement Network (HEN) is a national contract awarded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) which engages hospitals across the country to improve patient safety and quality, and achieve lower costs. The goal of the HEN is to reduce unnecessary readmissions by 20% and avoidable harm by 40%. GHA's Research and Education Foundation (GHAREF) is one of the 26 organizations in the United States to be awarded this CMS contract. Funding supports vigorous educational activities, quality improvement initiatives, and other resources to help Georgia hospitals. The potential savings from this program is upwards of $300,000,000 in Georgia for just five of the hospital acquired conditions.

"Thanks to your leadership and the commitment of your staff at Shepherd Center, we are well on our way to achieving these significant, life saving goals," said Joe Park, President/CEO of Georgia Hospital Association.

The recognition program Patient Safety Leaders' Circle shows the hospitals with the greatest improvement and participation in all Hospital Acquired Conditions (HAC) improvement activities through the HEN Learning Collaboratives. This recognition program also includes options for hospitals to receive extra credit for their focus and achievement in all causes harm as well as involvement of a representative at the State and the National CMS level as a member of the executive council.