Elgin Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center Receives Quality Improvement Award
Sherman Health is pleased to announce that the Elgin Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center, a joint venture between Sherman Health and Elgin Gastroenterology, has received a 2011 Bernard A. Kershner Innovations in Quality Improvement Award. These awards are given to two organizations annually--one for surgical/procedural care and one for primary care--by the AAAHC Institute for Quality Improvement, a not-for-profit subsidiary of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.
The Elgin Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center received this year's surgical/procedural care award for its Quality Improvement Activity titled, "Blood Sugar Study."
"This Performance Improvement study was initiated in an effort to determine if diabetic patients undergoing endoscopic procedures, like colonoscopy, were experiencing elevated blood sugars when they received IV fluids that contained dextrose (sugar)," said Lawrence R. Kosinski, MD, MBA, AGAF, FACG, Gastreoneterologist with Elgin Gastroenterology and on the Sherman Hospital Medical Staff. "The results were conclusive and indicated that diabetics undergoing these procedures should not receive IV fluids that contained dextrose, and should only receive saline solutions."
"This award exemplifies the high level of quality care that is offered at the Elgin Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center," says Mary Martini, Vice President of Business Development at Sherman Health. "We are proud to work with the physicians at Elgin Gastroenterology to provide outstanding care at the Center, and we congratulate the team on this amazing accomplishment."
AAAHC accredited organizations are eligible to apply for this annual award program. An expert panel reviews applications against criteria derived from the AAAHC's "10 elements" of quality improvement. Winners receive their awards and make presentations on their projects at the AAAHC Institute's annual National Educational Forum.
About the Elgin Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center
The Elgin Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center provides a complete range of the most advanced diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures, including colonoscopies and upper endoscopies (EGD). The Center incorporates state-of-the-art technologies for upper and lower endoscopic examinations with the latest in sedation, assuring patient relaxation and comfort. Physicians at the Center include: Gregory Gambla, DO; Sonia Godambe, MD; Sunil Joseph, MD, Lawrence R. Kosinski, MD, MBA, AGAF, FACG, Joseph Losurdo, MD, Rajesh Pillai, MD; James Stinneford, MD, Wei M Sun MD, PhD, FACG. To learn more, visit www.ElginGastro.com.