2023 Avera Quality Congress Honors Projects and Individuals

Leaders of quality improvement projects and individuals who exemplify Avera’s values of hospitality, compassion and stewardship were honored at the Avera Quality Congress on Aug. 9 in Sioux Falls. A total of 89 projects and individuals were nominated. Some 450 Avera employees and special guests attended the conference.

“Avera started Quality Congress in 2002 to honor those people and projects that are improving the quality of care we offer to every patient, each and every day at every Avera facility,” said David Basel, MD, Vice President of Clinical Quality and Population Health Officer for Avera Medical Group. The event is held every other year.

Along with three Face of Quality patient stories, the day included a keynote address by Dr. Tejal Gandhi, Chief Safety and Transformation Officer for Press Ganey.

Awards were selected by a diverse group of internal and external judges. Awards in each category are as follows:

Avera Caring Spirit – Compassion

• Kimmie Mentzer, Social Worker for Avera Health, Sioux Falls, SD
• Linda Dracy, RN at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, SD

Avera Caring Spirit – Hospitality

• Keith Roberts, Dietary Manager at Avera Eureka Health Care Center, Eureka, SD
• Sarah Siemonsma, Career Development Consultant with Avera Health, Sioux Falls, SD

Avera Caring Spirit – Stewardship

• April Peterson, Clinic Nurse at Avera Medical Group, Estherville, Iowa
• Monica Morrill, Administrative Coordinator at Avera Creighton Hospital, Creighton, Neb.

Mission Awards

• Avera Foundation for “Light the Way.” This project raised $23 million to support the recent addition to the Avera Behavioral Health Hospital, expanding access and breadth of services.
• Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, Sioux Falls, SD, for “Dignity Box.” This project provided a process for keeping personal items safe for patients in the hospital.
• Avera St. Benedict Health Center, Parkston, SD, for “Connecting our Community.” This mock accident event showcased multiple career opportunities while impacting high school students in regard to being responsible drivers.
• Avera Medical Group Oncology Service Line for “Avera eRadiation Oncology Program.” This project leverages telemedicine to expand access to cancer care expertise.

Safety Award

• Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, Aberdeen, SD, for the project, “Reduce Post-Operative Infection Rates by Changing the Location of Pre-operative Hair Clipping from the OR to Pre-op/Same Day Surgery.” This project sought to improve pre-surgical processes with a goal of reducing risk of post-op surgical site infection.

Excellence Awards

• Regional Centers: Clinical category – Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, Sioux Falls, SD, for the project “Quality Patient Safety Rounding.” Unit or clinic managers rounded with quality specialists to ensure that all high-volume clinics and nursing units in the hospital were 80% Joint Commission ready by January 2023.
• Non-Regional Centers: Clinical category – Floyd Valley Healthcare, LeMars, Iowa, for the project, “Centralized Prior Authorization Department.” This project was successful to streamline, optimize and centralize the prior authorization process to alleviate unnecessary delays in care while ensuring timely and accurate reimbursement.
• Other Avera Entities: Clinical category – Floyd Valley Healthcare, LeMars, Iowa, for the project, “Annual Wellness Visit.” Floyd Valley Clinics planned Annual Wellness Visits in conjunction with the patient’s appointments with their primary care provider, increasing the number of Medicare annual Wellness Visits completed.
• Regional: Non-Clinical category – Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, Sioux Falls, SD, for the project, “Case Management & Social Services Documentation Improvement.” This project created efficiencies by implementing standardized processes and optimizing technology to provide caregivers with more time at the bedside with patients.
• Collaboration category – Avera Health for the project, “Proper Interpretation and application of the Medicare 2 Midnight Rule.” This team gained consensus on best practices and launched and education campaign for following the Medicare 2 Midnight Rule.