DELMARVA FOUNDATION AWARDS 2003 MEDICARE EXCELLENCE AWARD
TO CALVERT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Annual Award Recognizes Quality Improvement in Hospitals

EASTON --- Delmarva Foundation, Maryland's Medicare quality improvement organization, today proclaimed Calvert Memorial Hospital the winner of the 2003 Campaign for Medicare Excellence Award for improving the quality of care for patients on Medicare.  The award recognizes hospitals that have made a significant and sustained improvement in the treatment of Medicare patients by raising their performance rates by 90% or better in at least 11 of the 22 performance measures selected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  They must also maintain this rate of excellence for a minimum of six months.

Calvert Memorial Hospital was selected for this recognition due to their improved rates for the timing of medication for heart attack patients up 100 % over a year; increase in the numbers of heart failure patients who received proper medication at discharge from 73% to 100%; reduction in the time it took to give flu and pneumococcal shots to patients staying in the hospital and 100% regularity of counseling for all inpatient smokers on the health advantages of quitting.
 
"We are pleased to have been selected by Delmarva Foundation to receive this high honor.  This recognition is truly a tribute to our staff that has worked tirelessly to enhance our communication, implement system changes, and provide timely feedback along with education to practitioners throughout the hospital
,"said James J. Xinis, President and CEO of Calvert Memorial Hospital.

"By making some systematic changes, Calvert Memorial Hospital has improved care for patients with heart attacks, congestive heart failure, and pneumonia.  We applaud their commitment to quality health care for all Medicare patients," said Maulik Joshi, President and CEO of Delmarva Foundation.  " Delmarva Foundation is pleased to recognize their sustained and continued achievement with this award."

###

About Delmarva Foundation
Delmarva Foundation is a national not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality, safety, and equitability of healthcare.  Since 1973, Delmarva has assisted with quality assessment and improvement in a variety of healthcare settings including hospitals, physician offices, nursing homes, home health agencies and managed care plans.   In over 20 states, Delmarva provides an essential link between government agencies, healthcare providers and consumers to ensure the highest quality of care.  Delmarva conducts work ranging from quality improvement, quality assurance, utilization review, and external quality review.  The company's corporate headquarters are located in Easton, Maryland with other offices in Baltimore, Maryland; Washington, DC; Charleston, West Virginia; Essex Junction, Vermont; Sacramento, California; Tampa, Florida; and Tallahassee, Florida.  For more information, please visit DFMC on the web at www.dfmc.org <http://www.dfmc.org>.