Quality

2024 Pillars of Excellence Award Winners

See the extraordinary work done by the 2024 Pillars of Excellence Award winners under the Quality Pillar.

Individual

Stacy Nilsen, Sharp Memorial Hospital

As part of the Generational Health team, Stacy works to redefine healthy aging and promote age-friendly practices.

Working with multiple stakeholders, she has launched initiatives, created performance improvement strategies, provided education and developed evidence-based guidance work. A recognized expert, she advances geriatric care through research, publications and conference presentations. Stacy’s dedication significantly improves the quality of care for the older adult community at Sharp and beyond.

Team

NICU Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Reduction, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns

This team reduced a breathing disorder in preterm infants by minimizing invasive ventilation.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a serious medical condition that can occur when infants’ lungs become irritated and do not develop normally. Members from nursing, respiratory therapy and neonatology solicited input from bedside staff, collected extensive baseline data, and developed and implemented multiple interventions to reduce this disorder. Their collaborations led to a standardized approach to respiratory management — resulting in a 41% reduction in delivery room interventions and a 37% reduction in patients intubated at one week of life.

Department

Case Management/Social Work, Sharp Grossmont Hospital

This department partnered with local organizations to develop a creative solution to serve patients living in rural areas of East County in need of home health services.

Initially focused on reducing hospital readmission rates, this department focused on the entire health and wellness of the individual thereby making significant impacts beyond the hospital doors. Patients in this program have been helped with social security and disability applications, securing food, refilling prescriptions — even playing board games to help combat loneliness.