MultiCare Health System

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Contact: Jennifer Aalgaard
Phone: 253.219.1715
Email: jennifer.aalgaard@goodsamhealth.org

MultiCare Awarded for Managing Low Risk Chest Pain Patients
Qualis Award given for improving patient care and decreasing hospital admissions

TACOMA, WA- MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital has earned the 2009 Award of Excellence in Healthcare Quality from Qualis Health, a national health care quality improvement program.

The award was given for work with patients suffering from low-risk chest pain in the emergency department to prevent potentially unnecessary hospitalizations.

In 2006, the Tacoma General team formed the Low-Risk Chest Pain Task Force. Noting the need to decrease these often unnecessary and costly hospitalizations, this team addressed the best approach for evaluating patients suffering from chest pain that did not pose an imminent health threat.

Based on the task force’s recommendations, a simple treadmill stress-test system was placed in the emergency department and nurses were trained to perform the tests. As a result, hospital admissions for patients with low-risk chest pain have decreased for the first time since 2004, and nearly 250 stress tests have been performed in the emergency department prior to patient discharge.

Qualis has recognized MultiCare Tacoma General for excellence in cardiac care previously. In 2006, MultiCare was also awarded the 2006 Award of Excellence in Healthcare Quality. The award was given for groundbreaking work in treating heart attack patients. The MultiCare team developed a unique way to respond to patients experiencing a cardiac emergency when they arrive at the hospital. The life-saving intervention provides fast heart attack treatment to minimize damage to the heart muscle.

In November 2008, with the opening of the Tacoma General Heart Hospital, MultiCare became the first health system in Washington State to embrace a national trend of expanding cardiac services and bringing them into a single, comprehensive center of care.

The Tacoma General Heart Hospital provides more beds and more capacity for cardiac care. It is home to the highest level of cardiovascular care available in the region and combined Tacoma General’s cardiac services under one roof, including cardiac & vascular operating suites, cardiac catheterization labs, cardiovascular intensive care, coronary care units and a chest pain cardiovascular short stay unit.

The Tacoma General Heart Hospital also houses all cardiac diagnostic, rehabilitation and prevention programs, including a heart failure clinic.

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MultiCare is a leading-edge, integrated health organization made up of four hospitals, numerous primary care and urgent care clinics, multi-specialty centers, Hospice and Home Health services, and many other services. A not-for-profit organization based in Tacoma, Washington since 1882, MultiCare has grown over the years in response to community needs. Today we are the area's largest provider of health care services, serving patients at 93 locations in Pierce, South King, Kitsap and Thurston counties.

About Qualis Health
Qualis Health is dedicated to generating, applying, and disseminating knowledge to improve the quality of healthcare delivery and health outcomes. In operation since 1974, the non-profit, healthcare quality improvement organization (QIO) is headquartered in Seattle, Washington and has offices in Alaska, Idaho, and California. More information can be found at www.qualishealth.org