Morris Hospital Representatives Showcase Quality Improvement Initiative
April 10, 2017, Springfield, Illinois – On April 5 in the Illinois State Capitol, representatives from Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers displayed a new quality improvement initiative called Rhythm of Our Youth that identifies area high school students who may be at risk for sudden cardiac death by identifying those who may have existing cardiac abnormalities.
Morris Hospital’s Cardiovascular Services and Education Director Jori Christensen and 2 South Registered Nurse Brenda Walsh were among more than 100 hospital and health system representatives from across Illinois who discussed with legislators their innovative, practical and collaborative approaches to improve care during the Illinois Health and Hospital Association’s (IHA) Quality Advocacy Showcase.
“It was very rewarding to see that Morris Hospital has already implemented many of the quality initiatives that other hospitals were showcasing,” said Christensen. “The Rhythm of Our Youth project that we focused on was definitely unique and attracted the interest of many other hospitals. Mostly, we were happy to be participating in a state-wide hospital and healthcare quality initiative.”
With a focus on early detection, Morris Hospital has screened over 3,000 area high school students for cardiac abnormalities since last August through a simple electrocardiogram test conducted on site at the schools. The program is a $130,000 investment supported through gifts to the Morris Hospital Auxiliary and Foundation. For the patients, families and communities Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers serves, the project is intended to save lives and is free to families and schools.
IHA’s Quality Advocacy Showcase, in its second year, is designed to visually demonstrate the often-overlooked and underreported work of physicians, nurses, quality improvement leaders and hospital administrators to develop solutions to improve care.
“The Illinois Health and Hospital Association Quality Advocacy Showcase provides a timely reminder of the life-saving work Illinois hospitals do daily and the critical role state government plays in ensuring that hospitals have the resources to continue to provide high-quality care to all Illinoisans,” said IHA President and CEO A.J. Wilhelmi.
Serving patients at 25 locations in 11 communities, Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers includes the 89-bed Morris Hospital, as well as physician offices in Braidwood, Channahon, Dwight, Gardner, Marseilles, Mazon, Morris, Newark, Ottawa and Yorkville. Through the services of over 1,700 healthcare professionals, physicians and volunteers, Morris Hospital provides lifesaving cardiac intervention with angioplasty and stents, a radiation therapy center for cancer patients, a state-of-the-art intensive care unit, and immediate care services at three locations. Morris Hospital is a Level II trauma center, a Level II perinatal care provider with an intermediate care nursery, and a Primary Stroke Center. Morris Hospital is one of 72 hospitals in the nation that has received Straight A’s on the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade.
