All four of Fort Myers, Fla.-based Lee Memorial Health System’s acute care hospitals are set to receive the lowest possible rating — one star — under CMS’ new rating system, making them part of the 135 total hospitals that will receive a one-star rating once the program is launched in July.
Jim Nathan, Lee Memorial’s president and CEO, told the News-Press he was “emotionally devastated” when he saw the scores for Lee Memorial Hospital, HealthPark Medical Center and Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers, and Cape Coral (Fla.) Hospital.
And he’s determined to make positive changes as a result — the system formed a rapid response quality team, made up of senior leaders, and put together work groups of leaders, physicians and other clinical staff members who are “digging deeply into our opportunity areas,” Mr. Nathan stated on Lee Memorial’s website.
“Our scores suggest we need to focus on three areas: clinical documentation, patient experience and clinical quality,” he wrote.
According to the News-Press, the system has already seen improvements in some areas like infection control, seeing central line-associated bloodstream infections drop 74 percent from 2015 to the present and catheter-associated urinary tract infections fall 62 percent from 2014 to now.
“We are fully committing to our goals of performing consistently at a five-star level and gaining a five-star recognition from CMS…I am confident that our Lee Memorial Health System family of talented, dedicated and determined caregivers and staff — who do great work every day and every night — will enable us to perform in the top decile of CMS measures,” Mr. Nathan wrote.
More articles on CMS star ratings:
Overall star ratings from CMS still drawing ire, admiration after delay
Seeing stars: CMS quality ratings in skilled nursing facilities
CMS delays overall hospital star ratings release: 4 things to know
