News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Alven Weil
Premier Inc.
704.733.5797

Premier Insurance Management Services introduces program to assess hospital performance and collaboration in clinical risk management, quality and safety

Program evaluation uses objectively scored, structure, process and outcome criteria representing industry standards and best practices which enable Premier healthcare alliance members to compare their results against similar healthcare systems

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (October 1, 2009) – Premier Insurance Management Services Inc. (PIMS), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Premier healthcare alliance, has introduced a new Clinical Risk Management (CRM) assessment program designed to evaluate performance and collaboration across the risk management, safety and quality functions in hospitals and healthcare systems.

The CRM assessment criteria focus on program structure, processes and outcomes that are based on recognized industry standards and best practices.

The program measures system and facility-level performance characteristics reflecting risk management, safety and quality management effectiveness as well as consistency of facility practices with system goals or directives. American Excess Insurance Exchange, RRG (AEIX), an excess professional liability carrier managed by PIMS' captive services, endorsed the CRM program after thoroughly testing and calibrating the assessment process and tool.

Healthcare systems interested in obtaining a CRM evaluation from PIMS will undergo a two-day on-site evaluation involving interviews with organizational leaders following an advance review of key organizational charts, program plans, policies and procedures. PIMS' risk management experts will perform the assessment at a hospital selected by the healthcare system.

"Industry standards and best practices focusing on structure, process and outcomes were key in the development of measurable criteria for the CRM assessment program," said PIMS President Robert Dowdy. "By participating in the CRM assessment, healthcare system risk managers will identify improvement opportunities which, if strengthened, could improve patient safety and satisfaction, clinical outcomes and reduce risk exposure. The ability to compare scores against other similar healthcare systems makes this a very unique program. We want our members to achieve performance improvements in these areas so they can better care for the communities they serve."

PIMS' CRM assessment program is designed to assess the following characteristics of a comprehensive CRM program:

The global vision and leadership support for the CRM program;
Collaboration across the system and within the reviewed facility, particularly with key departments, such as performance improvement and patient safety;
Communication channels and their effectiveness;
Orientation, education and engagement of trustees, medical staff leaders, and other staff in risk management concepts, projects and processes;
Processes for the identification, assessment, mitigation and prevention of risk and liability exposures;
Commitment to knowledge sharing throughout the facility and system which promotes the spread of best practices, enhanced patient safety, and reduced liability exposure; and
System and facility collaboration in developing and executing CRM projects and achieving CRM goals and objectives.

Organizations undergoing the program assessment will receive a confidential report with recommendations for potential improvement and recognition of demonstrated best practices. Additionally, a scorecard is included with blinded comparative data from other systems to enable comparative benchmarking.

For more information, contact Anne Irving, assistant vice president of Risk Management, at 858-509-6575.

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.

About Premier Inc., 2006 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient
The Premier healthcare alliance is more than 2,300 U.S. hospitals and 64,000-plus other healthcare sites working together to improve healthcare quality and affordability. Owned by not-for-profit hospitals, Premier maintains the nation's most comprehensive repository of clinical, financial and outcomes information and operates a leading healthcare purchasing network. A world leader in helping deliver measurable improvements in care, Premier works with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the United Kingdom's National Health Service North West to improve hospital performance. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier also has offices in San Diego, Philadelphia and Washington. Follow Premier on Twitter.