Case Studies
Partnership for Quality
Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, a 347-bed public hospital in Bronx, N.Y., has established a true partnership with its community, which includes a diverse population and economic challenges for many. In addition to 160,000 ED and 440,000 ambulatory care visits, the medical center connects with more than 20,000 patients annually via about 400 outreach programs, including innovative programs to promote preventive health services. For example, the'For You, For Life!' campaign aims to decrease disparities in the rate of colonoscopies, detection of adenomas and prevention of colorectal cancer among minority groups. Patient navigators work with patients and encourage them to get a colonoscopy, using an innovative direct referral system. As a result, in three years: the number of colonoscopies increased from 774 to 3,000 per year; the no-show rate for appointments decreased from 67 percent to 10 percent; and the number of cancers diagnosed shifted to earlier stages. Lincoln's community advisory board connects with local organizations to collaborate with the medical center in meeting the community's health care needs. Quality and safety are always top of mind for leadership and front-line staff, who emphasize collaboration and interdisciplinary teamwork to provide high-quality, patient-centered care. Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center was a finalist for the 2012 AHA-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize.
Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, a 347-bed public hospital in Bronx, N.Y., has established a true partnership with its community, which includes a diverse population and economic challenges for many. In addition to 160,000 ED and 440,000 ambulatory care visits, the medical center connects with more than 20,000 patients annually via about 400 outreach programs, including innovative programs to promote preventive health services. For example, the'For You, For Life!' campaign aims to decrease disparities in the rate of colonoscopies, detection of adenomas and prevention of colorectal cancer among minority groups. Patient navigators work with patients and encourage them to get a colonoscopy, using an innovative direct referral system. As a result, in three years: the number of colonoscopies increased from 774 to 3,000 per year; the no-show rate for appointments decreased from 67 percent to 10 percent; and the number of cancers diagnosed shifted to earlier stages. Lincoln's community advisory board connects with local organizations to collaborate with the medical center in meeting the community's health care needs. Quality and safety are always top of mind for leadership and front-line staff, who emphasize collaboration and interdisciplinary teamwork to provide high-quality, patient-centered care. Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center was a finalist for the 2012 AHA-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize.
For more information, contact Melissa Schori, M.D., chief medical officer, at melissa.schori@nychhc.org or Abdul Mondul, M.D., associate medical director and patient safety officer, at abdul.mondul@nychhc.org.