For Immediate Release: Dec. 29, 2010

Grady Memorial Hospital on Quality Honor Roll

Contact: Denise Simpson
Phone: (404) 616-6855
E-mail: dsimpson@gmh.edu

Contact: Kevin Bloye
Georgia Hospital Association
Phone:(770) 249-4504
E-mail: kbloye@gha.org

Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia has been named to the Georgia Hospital Association's (GHA) Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) Quality Honor Roll. Grady is one of 56 hospitals in Georgia to be placed in the Presidential category, one of the highest on the list. The honor roll is based on clinical data provided by the federal Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS), which administers the nation's Medicare and Medicaid programs. The data was collected from July 2009 to June 2010.

"This is a great accomplishment for Grady," said Joseph Parker, president of GHA. "This recognition further underscores the commitment of the Grady staff to ensuring that every patient receives the best, most effective health care possible."

All acute care hospitals are required to submit care data to CMS. This data details how well a hospital's caregivers adhere to a list of eight Appropriate Care Measures (ACM), which are the clinical processes of care known to be the most effective methods of treatment for patients who have suffered heart attacks, heart failure or pneumonia. The ACM is a composite measure that determines whether or not a patient received the right care at the right time.

For instance, a recommended treatment to help prevent a heart attack is to take aspirin either before or upon arrival at the hospital, as well as at discharge. A suggested treatment for pneumonia is to administer an antibiotic within four hours of a patient's arrival. A hospital's adherence to these recommended clinical practices usually leads to better outcomes.

"It is our mission to ensure that each of our patients receives the right care at the right time and this recognition validates this," said Michael A. Young, president and CEO of Grady Health System. "This honor is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our staff who are constantly working to make excellent care even better."

About Grady Health System
Grady Health System is one of the largest public health systems in the United States. Grady consists of the 953-bed Grady Memorial Hospital, nine neighborhood health centers, Crestview Health & Rehabilitation Center - and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding, which is operated as a Children's affiliate.

With its nationally acclaimed Emergency Care Center and Burn Unit, Grady Health System has the only level I trauma center in the region and serves as the 911 ambulance provider for the city of Atlanta. The state's only Poison Center is housed at Grady, as well.

The Diabetes Detection & Control Center, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Primary Stroke Center and Avon Foundation Comprehensive Breast Center are also notable components of the health system. Moreover, Grady's Infectious Disease Program was named one of the top three HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics in the country.

Other exceptional medical services include Grady's Regional Perinatal Center and its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Primary Care Center, a dedicated 60 Plus service line for older adults, Teen Services, and the Rape Crisis Center.

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