Orlando, Florida (May 20, 2008) – St. Vincent Healthcare Medical Practices Division- The Sleep Center in Billings, MT has been named an INNOVATION Award winner in healthcare service quality for 2007 by Avatar International, a leader in healthcare research and consulting. This award is based on the results of the hospital’s patient surveys.
In making the announcement, Michael Everett, PhD, Avatar Founder and CEO said, “Innovation is often thought of as merely brilliant ideas. However, true innovation encompasses the hard work required for turning those ideas into reality. The Sleep Center is to be congratulated for first--listening carefully to the voice of patients, second--to thinking about how the patient experience could be dramatically improved, and last--going the extra mile and working hard to implement the innovative changes. St. Vincent Healthcare Medical Practices Division is also to be congratulated for fostering a culture where innovation can take root.
ABOUT THE AWARD
In 2006 Avatar launched an Innovations Award process for hospitals to submit best practice for improvements attained in the previous year for patient surveys. Our first awards were in 2007 for 2006 achievements.
An amazing theme emerged from the innovation award winners: Bold, Daring, and a little Gutsy. What we found is that innovation came from the “who” and “how” and not the “what”. As we looked at how we define innovation at Avatar, the picture began very clear:
• Doing what others say can’t be done
• Doing what others are not doing
• Going where others haven’t gone
• Overcoming barriers
• Creating energy to keep going
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
Through Evidence Based Intelligent Surveys(TM) and Innovative Solutions(TM), Avatar International assists hospitals in creating and implementing innovative solutions to address local healthcare needs. With over 25 years of experience in quality improvement and customer service training, Avatar provides a broad spectrum of improvement support to survey clients. Avatar’s leading edge Intelligent Surveys (TM) help hospitals excel at HCAHPS and service quality, increase market share, enhance community image, decrease the cost of poor service, improve outcomes, and retain high performing staff.
ABOUT ST. VINCENT HEALTHCARE SLEEP CENTER
The St. Vincent Healthcare Sleep Center is Montana’s most comprehensive sleep facility that includes two physicians that have extensive training and certifications in Sleep Medicine. There are also a psychiatrist and a psychologist who specialize in behaviorial issues related to sleep. Additionally, one of Billings most experienced internal medicine physicians on the staff. Sleep related issues treated in the sleep center include, but are not limited to: obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, insomnia, restleg leg syndrome, and periodic limb movement disorder. The Sleep Center is an accredited Sleep Center since August 1997 by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. To learn more about Sleep Center services, call 238-6815.
ABOUT AVATAR
Definition of “Avatar”: exemplar, standard of comparison
Avatar is the premier provider of hospital surveys in the healthcare industry. Avatar began in 1981 as the Avatar Institute, a non-profit research and training institute. Avatar’s services initially focused on quality and performance improvement, learning organization, customer service, and vision alignment development. Several Avatar clients such as the Walt Disney World Company, Baptist Health Care in Pensacola, and the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company became widely known as industry leaders for their excellent customer focus.
Avatar has served healthcare nationally for over twenty-five years including small community hospitals, academic medical centers, large regional medical centers, integrated healthcare systems, long-term care and behavioral health organizations. Avatar provides the most accurate, comprehensive, customized, and actionable patient surveys in the industry. Avatar is the only survey vendor that constructs a unique survey for each and every patient to measure the precise care and services received.
Michael Everett Ph.D, CEO is the only patient survey expert ever appointed to the prestigious National Advisory Council of the Agency for healthcare Research & Quality. Dr. Everett advised AHRQ during the development phase of HCAHPS.
Avatar International can be reached at 1-800-282-8274.
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