Lakeland, FL – Lakeland Regional Medical Center (LRMC) has been named by the Florida Hospital Association (FHA) as the winner of the 2014 Innovation of the Year in Patient Care Award in the over 150-bed category for its national standard setting Emergency Department redesign.
LRMC’s two year Emergency Department transformation resulted in reduced wait times, enhanced safety and better patient experiences. As a result, the State of Florida’s busiest single site Emergency Department handled over 187,000 visits in 2013 and is projected to handle over 200,000 visits this year.
“We are very pleased to receive this distinction from our peers at the Florida Hospital Association,” said Dr. Mack Reavis, Chief Medical Officer of Lakeland Regional Health System (LRHS) and President of LRMC. “The need for increased efficiency led to the successful combination of reengineered processes, simulation models, innovative technology and proactive care. We are proud of our team for their hard work delivering nationally recognized healthcare to the patients and families we are privileged to serve.”
The Innovation of the Year in Patient Care Award honors hospitals and health systems that have developed or instituted new methods for delivering patient care. The award was judged on the scope, originality and implementation of innovation, effectiveness of achieving the stated purpose, and demonstrated potential for application in other hospitals.
Dr. James Melton, III, Janet Fansler, DNP, RN, CENP, and Maureen Leckie, MSN, RN, HACP, accepted the award on behalf of the Lakeland Regional Medical Center team during the Celebration of Achievement in Quality and Service Awards at the FHA Annual Meeting held in Orlando, Florida, on October 16.