CareSouth Carolina is proud to announce it has received the 2018 Quality Improvement Award from the Health Resources and Service Administration, a branch of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
According to a commendation letter from George Sigounas, Administrator for the Health Resources and Service Administration, CareSouth Carolina “achieved the best overall performance among all health centers, placing in the top 30 percent of the adjusted quartile rankings for Clinical Quality Measures.”
In addition to winning the prestigious Quality Improvement Award, CareSouth Carolina will receive a $236,432 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This money is part of $125 million in Quality Improvement grant awards to be distributed to 1,352 community health centers across all U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia. Funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), health centers will use these funds to continue to improve quality, efficiency, and the effectiveness of healthcare delivery in the communities they serve.
According to HHS Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan, “Community health centers provide coordinated, comprehensive, and patient-centered care to millions of Americans. They have a track record of delivering quality care at significantly lower cost, and are vital partners in our movement toward a health system that delivers quality, affordable, value-based health care for all Americans.” HRSA’s Quality Improvement grant awards promote continued community health center improvements in the following categories: Expanding access to comprehensive care, improving care quality and outcomes, increasing comprehensive care delivery in a cost-effective way, addressing health disparities, advancing the use of health information technology, and delivering patient-centered care.
“As one of only two health centers in South Carolina to receive this recognition, I cannot express how proud I am,” said Ann Lewis, CEO of CareSouth Carolina. “ We have been working hard! We’ve developed measurement systems, staff incentives and recognitions, innovative programs to improve health care quality and a laser focus on improving quality. This recognition comes as the result of a few years’ work. Most importantly, this work has resulted in improved health outcomes such as diabetic and blood pressure control for so many folks in the Pee Dee. We are aiming for a healthier Pee Dee!”
CareSouth Carolina is a private, non-profit community health center delivering patient-centered health and life services in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. CareSouth Carolina operates centers in Bennettsville, Bishopville, Cheraw, Chesterfield, Dillon, Hartsville, Lake View, Latta, McColl and Society Hill. Services provided by CareSouth Carolina include family practice, women services, pediatrics, dental, infectious diseases assistance and prevention program, chiropractic services, substance abuse prevention program, geriatrics, social services, clinical counseling, pharmacy, ultrasound, laboratory and X-Ray.