On Wednesday, September 10, VHA Georgia hosted its 2014 Leadership Expo in Atlanta. The event included education, networking and leading practice sharing that focused on identifying techniques for managing and thriving in a changing healthcare environment, achieving triple-aim goals and reducing variability in care.

The event culminated a six-month process of collecting applications from member hospitals and an extensive peer review evaluation to select winners that participated in VHA Georgia’s 2014 Leadership Awards Program. Recipients of the prestigious awards were recognized in categories based on hospital size.

Medical Center, Navicent Health’s Nancy Osborn, RN, Manager of Infection Prevention Control and Epidemiology, authored the first place award in the “Greater than 350 Beds” category for her research on “Embedded Infection Prevention in the Operating Room.” The professional team responsible for the outcomes discussed in the report consisted of Medical Center, Navicent Health’s infection preventionist, surgeons, perioperative nurses and operating room staff.

“Medical Center, Navicent Health provides the highest quality of care, along with the best programs in the nation. That would not be possible without the commitment of employees like Nancy, who through dedicated research, improve the quality of care that we provide. The award presented by VHA Georgia affirms that fact,” said Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders, President and CEO of Navicent Health.

WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Ga. and University Health Care System in Augusta, Ga. won second and third place in the category, respectively.

In addition to Osborn’s award, Medical Center, Navicent Health also received recognition for the sustained success and innovation of its palliative care program. VHA selected Medical Center, Navicent Health as a national “Leading Performer in Palliative Care” in 2013. As a leading performer, the hospital’s palliative care program has served as a model for the development of palliative care programs throughout the U.S. In particular, Medical Center, Navicent Health’s use of masters prepared counselors in palliative treatment has been blueprinted for other agencies to replicate. By modeling for others, Navicent Health is improving patient care and lowering healthcare costs across the nation.

“The growth of Navicent Health’s program over the past ten years is staggering, with outcomes far exceeding the predicted volume. Our bio-psycho-social approach to caring for patients and their families has become an accepted standard of practice at Navicent Health. It is gratifying to know that other hospitals are encouraged to duplicate our processes, and that their patients benefit from the work that we have done here,” said Carol Babcock, MFT, Manager of Center of Palliative Care, Navicent Health.

Medical Center, Navicent Health was home to the first Certified Palliative Care Center in the Southeast to receive Advanced Palliative Care Certification from The Joint Commission, and Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health was one of the first four children’s hospitals in the nation to receive Joint Commission certification.