Mercyhealth hospital in Harvard recognized by rural hospital network for quality care

Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center in Harvard was recently recognized by the a network of small rural Illinois hospitals for its "ongoing commitment to exceptional quality of care," according to a news release.

As part of the a federal rural health care improvement program, the Harvard hospital, along with other critical access hospitals, was asked to voluntarily monitor four quality areas, which included patient safety, patient engagement, care transitions and outpatient measures.

“We are very proud of our team for achieving this level of excellence in health quality,” Mercyhealth Hospital–Harvard Chief Operating Officer Jeni Hallatt said in a release. “This is truly a team effort that recognizes our dedication to delivering a health care experience of which our patients and staff can be proud.”

Mercyhealth Hospital–Harvard was honored by Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network – a network of 57 small rural Illinois hospitals dedicated to strengthening the operations of its member hospitals through collaboration – during a virtual ceremony Nov. 17 for being a top performer in all four domains.

“Often, in rural hospitals, having a devoted staff member to abstract and submit this data can be both time-consuming and burdensome,” Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network Flex Coordinator Laura Fischer said in the release. “This hospital realizes how important quality of care and an engaged staff is for its patients. From its top leadership on throughout the facility, each staff member strives for continued quality on a daily basis, and that is what we are celebrating today.”