Primaris Press Release
| For immediate release: April 28, 2008 |
Contact: Matt Heger Primaris Communications Department (800) 735-6776, Ext. 136 |
Photos
Audrain City-County Health Unit's offices in Mexico, Mo. Photo credit: Matt Heger
|
Audrain City-County Health Unit earns Primaris Home Health Quality Award
Honored for outstanding quality of care
MEXICO, Mo.—At Audrain City-County Health Unit doing the right thing for every patient, every time, means providing the best possible care for friends and neighbors in Mexico, Mo. and the 30-mile surrounding radius.
In recognition for outstanding care, the home health provider has been awarded the Primaris Home Health Quality Award, an annual honor conferred by Primaris, Missouri’s federally-designated Medicare Quality Improvement Organization.
“This agency takes the basics –reducing hospitalizations and improving patients’ mobility and their ability to take their medications – and does them consistently so that more patients receive the best possible care,” said Richard A. Royer, Primaris CEO.
All 168 home health agencies across Missouri were eligible for the award, with 21 meeting stringent finalist qualifications.
“Our premise has always been patient care first,” said Kevin Lowrance, the health unit’s administrator. “If you’re taking care of the patient and doing what needs to be done, the quality of patient care follows. We’re looking to take care of the people referred to us, and that’s the bottom line.”
This philosophy combined with hard work has enabled more of the health unit’s patients to manage their own oral medications, to become better able to go about their daily routines and to remain in the comfort of their homes.
According to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data, the rural health unit’s rates place it among the top ten percent of agencies in the nation for helping patients better manage oral medications and avoid preventable re-hospitalization.
The Primaris Home Health Quality Award was presented to the Audrain City-County Health Unit at the Missouri Association for Home Care annual conference in Lake Ozark on April 28, 2008.
About Primaris
Primaris is a nonprofit, health care consulting firm and contracts with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to serve as the Quality Improvement Organization for Missouri. Primaris’ mission is to improve health care delivery and outcomes by promoting excellence, advancing knowledge and developing innovative solutions for physicians, other providers, businesses, government, patients and consumers.
– # # # –