INNOVATION IN PATIENT SAFETY AND QUALITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL (Two recipients)
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia, subsidiary of WellPoint Inc., Richmond, VA

This organization is being recognized for its development and implementation of performance-based reimbursement programs for Virginia hospitals, cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. These programs are known as the Quality-In-Sights®: Hospital Incentive Program (Q-HIPSM) and Quality Physician Performance Program (Q-P3SM). Q-HIP and QP3 reward hospitals and physicians for practicing evidence-based medicine and implementing other nationally recognized best practices. By aligning hospital and physician goals, these unique programs foster collaborative efforts to improve care across the healthcare system. By using the metrics based on all-payer, non-administrative data, Q-HIP and Q-P3 endeavor to bring high quality care to all patients and communities.
New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, New York, NY

The organization is being honored for developing and implementing its transparency website, known as HHC in Focus. HHC in Focus is designed to make performance data accessible and transparent to all patients and consumers, to demonstrate HHC's willingness to be accountable for the care delivered throughout the system, and to foster a culture of continuous improvement. Data displayed on this site demonstrate the effectiveness of the organization's core investments in patient safety, best practices and quality improvement. The website is a bold advance because it provides high visibility to not only system-wide data, but to hospital-specific data as well. Additionally, both positive data results and data that may indicate opportunities for improvement are displayed.

HONORARY AWARD for INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT
Dennis S. O'Leary, president emeritus of The Joint Commission

O'Leary will receive an honorary lifetime achievement award for his leadership in, and many contributions to, improving the safety and quality of healthcare provided in the United States. Dr. O'Leary, who led the Joint Commission for 21 years until his retirement in 2007, is credited with successfully transforming the accreditation process to focus on organization performance in the provision of patient care. This transformation set the stage for the progressive introduction of care-related outcomes and process measures, as well as National Patient Safety Goals, into the accreditation process. Dr. O'Leary also oversaw the introduction of cutting-edge standards relating to patient safety, pain management, use of patient restraints, and emergency preparedness. In recent years, he spearheaded the launching of a series of Joint Commission public policy initiatives which have addressed the nurse staffing crisis, health professions educational reform, and the nexus between patient safety and the tort system, among others.

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