Making The Grade For Good Health

DANBURY — Danbury Hospital “made the grade” in quality of care and community service — not by its own definition, but by producing superior results as compared with all other US hospitals in 2004.

In its newly released Performance Report Card for Quality and Community Service, the hospital — one of the Solucient Top 100 Hospitals — outlines how it has fulfilled its quality of care and stewardship obligations as a not-for-profit teaching hospital and medical center linked to its community.

Frank J. Kelly, president and CEO, Danbury Hospital and Danbury Health Systems, described the report as the hospital’s way of demonstrating how funds are allocated toward its charitable purposes and ensuring the community receives value by reporting patient care outcomes as compared to acknowledged health care industry authorities.

 “We believe our quality designations and our track record of service translate into better care for our community,” Mr Kelly explained. “In addition to measuring ourselves against ‘best practices’ to benefit our patients, we also measure our patients’ perceptions of their care.

“Danbury Hospital has embraced its charitable mission by measuring and quantifying the extent to which it carries out programs and initiatives to address important health concerns,” Mr Kelly said.

The report includes:

Charity Care — Immediate medical treatment that is provided for those who cannot pay for it.

Programs with Limited Funding — Essential services that are not fully reimbursed (Danbury Hospital makes up the difference for programs and services that do not receive enough funding to cover their costs).

Donated Services — Events and community programs that receive Danbury Hospital’s financial, technical, material, and human support.

Professional Education — Training and development of physicians, nurses, and other allied health professionals.

Quality Report Card — Information about the Solucient Top 100 Hospitals designation, quality and patient safety initiatives, and specific Danbury Hospital outcomes for cardiovascular disease and pneumonia compared to national standards.

Accreditation, Awards, and Distinctions — Examples of how Danbury Hospital is achieving excellence for clinical care, outreach, and education.

To obtain a copy of Danbury Hospital’s Performance Report Card for Quality and Community Service, call 797-7247 or visit www.danburyhospital.org.