Danbury Hospital Recognized

For Case Management Program

DANBURY –– Danbury Hospital was recently recognized by the American Case Management Association (ACMA) and the Joint Commission on Accreditation and Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) for its excellent case management program.

Of more than 50 applications from across the country, representing organizations of all sizes, Danbury Hospital’s Clinical Resource Management Department was selected as one of two finalists for the inaugural Franklin Award of Distinction, according to Doris Imperati, director of Clinical Resource Management (CRM).

The Franklin Award of Distinction was named for Benjamin Franklin, who started the country’s first organized hospital. Applicants were judged for leadership, competence, and expertise in solution/resolution of identified problems; well-defined and applied case management practices; and the measurement and achievement of quality outcomes.

Danbury Hospital ranked only behind Sutter Health, one of the country’s largest not-for-profit networks of community-based heath care providers, representing 100 communities in Northern California.

“Even though Danbury Hospital did not win the award, it was an honor to be selected as one of the two national finalists. Seeing the size and scope of the organization that did win, and what we were up against, confirms that we can compete with the best of the best in case management,” said Ms Imperati.

CRM is responsible for coordinating, expediting, and monitoring the delivery of services within Danbury Hospital and its affiliates to streamline the process of care-delivery, improve patient satisfaction, and expedite value-added clinical services throughout the continuum of care.

Ms Imperati said Danbury Hospital was recognized for its interdisciplinary team approach and how well its case management nurses and social workers are integrated within the department and throughout the organization. “What also distinguishes CRM is its cohesiveness, dedication, professionalism, and compassion of its staff,” according to Pat Morgan, supervisor of CRM.

To compete, Danbury Hospital’s CRM department submitted an application and letters of endorsement from President/CEO Frank Kelly and Vice President of Medical Affairs Matthew Miller, MD, along with more than 100 pages of supporting documentation.

“Our CRM Department serves as a mentor to surrounding hospitals and health care organizations and is a leader in advance practice initiatives, not only within the organization but also by the Connecticut Hospital Association,” said Mr Kelly.

 “The CRM department is highly respected by the medical staff,” Dr Miller said. “One of its unique features is the Physician-Based Model, which pairs physicians with individual case coordinators. This model allows each patient to have a single, consistent resource team regardless of the patient’s location in the hospital. Consequently, physician and patient satisfaction levels, as measured by Press Ganey surveys, score consistently high.”