Newport News, Va. (December 26, 2007) – Bon Secours Hampton Roads Health System today announced that St. Francis Nursing Center received the Virginia Health Quality Center Silver Achievement Award for excellence in quality improvement measures.

The award recognizes St. Francis Nursing Center based on the facility’s excellence in meeting specific achievements in medical care provided to Medicare patients in the areas of chronic, pain, physical restraints and high risk pressure ulcers quality measures.  The award was presented by the Virginia Health Quality Center (VHQC) at the 2007 Quality Outcomes Congress in Richmond, Virginia on December 4th.

“We are delighted to recognize St. Francis Nursing Center as a partner and congratulate them on their achievements,” explained Donald A. Glozer, President and CEO of VHQC. 

“This is a true testament to St. Francis’ commitment to providing excellent care for the residents we serve,” stated Diana Jarrett, RN, administrator, St. Francis Nursing Care Center.  “I’m very proud of the team that made this possible.”  

St. Francis Nursing Center was a member of a select group of 45 Virginia nursing homes chosen to participate in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Nursing Home Quality Initiative.  To receive the silver award, these nursing homes accomplished a required level of improvement in three of four quality measures between the third quarter of 2005 and the second quarter of 2007.  St. Francis Nursing  Center was one of seven facilities in the NHQI Select Group to receive this recognition.

VHQC works to implement successful and meaningful changes to the way health care is delivered in the stat of Virginia.  It created partnerships, develops methods, and evaluates outcomes for quality improvements that result in healthier communities for the states’ more than 900,000 Medicare beneficiaries.