Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach Selected as Part of Six Recipients of the 2012 AEIX Risk Management Award

For the second year in a row, Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach were selected as winners of the 2012 American Excess Insurance Exchange (AEIX) Risk Management Award. The hospitals will receive a $10,000 grant for reducing liability and improving the safety and well being of patients being treated in hospitals.

The award was given to Dr. Peggy Kalowes, Director, Nursing Research, Evidence Based Practice and Advanced Practice Nursing at Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach for her work in a clinical research trial that tested the use of a Silicone Foam Sacrum Border Dressing® (Mepilex) to prevent pressure ulcers in high-risk patients. The research findings showed a significant reduction in pressure ulcers in patients who received the dressing during the trial. MemorialCare has now adopted the use of the Mepilex sacrum dressing, thus we hope to significantly prevent hospital acquired pressure ulcers and to educate patients and families about strategies for prevention of pressure ulcers at home following discharge.

Pressure ulcers occur from pressure, friction and shear against an area of skin in patients who are bed or wheelchair confined, including those who are acutely ill or elderly.

“We’re incredibly honored to receive this prestigious grant for a second year in a row and hope to help develop a comprehensive patient and family education program that aids families in preventing pressure ulcers,” said Kalowes. “One important point in our findings is that there is an enormous education gap with patients that didn’t know there were practical and important steps they could take to help prevent this complication.”

This award marks the second consecutive AEIX Risk Management Grant that Kalowes has received from AEIX. Last year, she was awarded $5,000 for her work on an innovative patient program that helped elderly patients reduce their risk of suffering a debilitating fall.

Ninety-eight hospitals and associated entities within AEIX, an excess liability risk retention group managed by Premier Insurance Management Services, were eligible to apply for the award. Twenty-two institutions applied for the grant, of which, only six were selected as award winners. Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach were the only representatives from California.

“Long Beach Memorial is consistently improving our methods to reduce cost and demonstrate enhanced safety for all of our patients,” said Diana Hendel, CEO of Long Beach Memorial, Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach and Community Hospital Long Beach. “Over the past two years, we’ve been leading the charge in developing these new practices, and our patients can expect to see these cutting-edge techniques to be replicated across ours, and other health systems to improve the quality of care for all.”

For more information on the 2012 AEIX Risk Management Awards with the complete list of winners visit: www.premierinc.com/about/news/awards.

About Long Beach Memorial, Miller Children’s and Community Hospital Long Beach
Long Beach Memorial, Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach and Community Hospital Long Beach are a part of the MemorialCare Health System, a nationally recognized not-for-profit integrated delivery system with top ratings for quality and safety. Long Beach Memorial has been providing compassionate care with the latest state-of-the-art technology for more than 100 years and is the region's first choice for comprehensive care in virtually every medical and surgical specialty. Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach provides specialized pediatric care for children and young adults, with conditions ranging from common to complex—as well as maternity care for expectant mothers—all under one roof. Community Hospital Long Beach has been providing warm and personalized top-quality medical care that its patients have come to treasure and trust since first opening its doors in 1924, offering state-of-the-art imaging, a comprehensive cancer care center, cardiovascular diagnostics, behavioral health, women's heart screenings, occupational medicine, wellness and diabetes services and more. Visit MemorialCare.org for more information.

About AEIX
AEIX provides excess professional and general liability insurance to not-for-profit hospitals and health systems. AEIX can provide up to $40 million in limits without the use of facultative reinsurance. AEIX is organized as a Vermont licensed reciprocal risk retention group, an insurance company authorized under federal legislation for the purpose of providing liability lines of insurance to its members.

About Premier Insurance Management Services Inc. (PIMS)
Incorporated in 1987, PIMS is an Illinois for-profit corporation wholly owned by Premier Inc. PIMS provides contracted management services for American Excess Insurance Exchange, Risk Retention Group (AEIX), and is attorney-in-fact for Premier Insurance Exchange, Risk Retention Group (PRx). PIMS also serves as program manager offering enhanced sponsored programs with leading commercial insurers through a comprehensive portfolio of property, casualty and employee benefit products. Other services include providing claims and risk management assessments and education offerings regarding medical professional liability for hospitals and their physicians. For more information, visit http://www.premierinc.com/risk/tools-services/pims/index.jsp.