Press Release

Local Health Centers Receive National Recognition

Frederiksted Health Care, Inc. (FHC) and St. Thomas East End Medical Center (STEEMCC), the community-based not-for-profit federally qualified health centers in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Virgin Islands Medical Institute, Inc. (VIMI), the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for the U.S. Virgin Islands, were nationally recognized for their health care quality improvement achievements in the Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative (PSPC).

On January 18, 2013, Mrs. Masserae Sprauve-Webster, FHC Chief Executive Officer, and Ms. Judy Anne Ross, FHC Director of Nursing, accepted the PSPC Transformation Award at the National Learning Session 1 PSPC 5.0 conference in Arlington County, Virginia on behalf of the entire medical and support staff of both health centers. Dr. Risa M. Nielsen, VIMI Physician AIMs Leader, accepted the QIO Partner Award on behalf of the VIMI staff and the consultant pharmacists that facilitate - the work in both health centers.

The PSPC Transformation Award is given to those teams that rapidly adopt and embrace the principles of the PSPC Collaborative to improve patient safety related to medication use and quickly advance through the different levels of the Collaborative. VIMI was recognized for the valuable guidance and expert support they provide to members of the Virgin Islands Community PSPC team.

The goal of the Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative (PSPC) is to improve the quality of health care across the United States and its territories by integrating evidence-based clinical pharmacy services into the care and management of high-risk, high-cost, complex patients. Simply put, this collaborative strives to create a patient-centered environment where patients are protected from potential injury or harm related to medication use and to improve control of diseases by helping patients understand how to use their medications correctly and safely.

The Virgin Islands team has done a phenomenal job in achieving this goal! The partnership with the Virgin Islands Medical Institute, Inc., some local pharmacies, and the PSPC, has resulted in a system to identify, track and, more importantly, reduce medication related harm to patients.

The Virgin Islands Medical Institute, Inc. recognizes the health centers as true V.I Champions for Quality Improvement. Dr. Nielsen state, "We are proud of their achievements and will continue to serve them as an expert resource for the PSPC. Congratulations!"

To learn more, visit the Frederiksted Health Care Inc. at www.fhc-inc.net, St. Thomas East End Medical Center (STEEMCC) at 340-775-3700, or VIMI at http://viqio.org or call 340-712-2400.

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