Florida Governor Issues Proclamation During National Healthcare Quality Week

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Governor Charlie Crist has
issued a Proclamation recognizing the outstanding work Healthcare Quality
Professionals do for the people of Florida. This proclamation mirrors the
sentiments of National Healthcare Quality Week, October 19-25th, which
celebrates the work of Healthcare Quality Professionals and pays tribute to
their influence in achieving improved outcomes of patient care and improved
function of healthcare delivery systems.
Healthcare Quality Professionals are driven by the desire to make a
positive difference in the lives of their patients, co-workers, organizations
and communities. Some of the healthcare quality initiatives going on in
Florida include efforts to: -- reduce community spread of antibiotic
resistant infections through an
innovative community campaign "Clean Hands Are Cool Hands", designed
for children K-4, their teachers and parents, replete with activities,
lesson plans and a website -- launched in Tampa, Florida schools by
the HCA hospital system, now a nation-wide HCA initiative
-- reduce disparities in healthcare for minorities and non-English
speakers -- United Healthcare's Latino Health Initiative (recognized
by prestigious National Committee for Quality Assurance award for
Innovation in Multicultural Healthcare)
-- improve patient safety through special training of 500 staff members
to serve as Ambassadors for Patient Safety within their work
units -- Baptist Health South Florida
-- reduce door-to-doctor time in Emergency Departments throughout Florida
by sharing methodologies from their own successful quality initiatives
on the IHI website -- Florida Hospital Orlando
-- identify and understand the determinants of quality of health care for
the children of Florida through focus on health care disparities and
information technology -- All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg and
the University of South Florida
-- develop a systematic approach to quality improvement in hospice care
which includes monthly, non-punitive feedback to practitioners so that
improvement is truly continuous -- Haven Hospice, serving 18 counties
in North Florida (now serving as a model for the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS) in their development of national quality
reporting standards for hospices)

These are just a few of the many examples of what healthcare quality
professionals are doing to improve healthcare and quality of life for the
people of Florida. Sandi O'Neal, President of the Florida Association for
Healthcare Quality (FAHQ), commented: "FAHQ joins Governor Crist in applauding
these leaders of change during this State-wide and National time of
recognition -- they truly make a difference in improving healthcare for all
the people of Florida!"
SOURCE Florida Association for Healthcare Quality, Inc.

Sandi O'Neal, President of Florida Association for Healthcare Quality, Inc.,
+1-386-428-2566, sandio@cfl.rr.com