PeaceHealth United General earns state recognition for quality initiative

SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash. – PeaceHealth United General Medical Center has been recognized by the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) with a Rural Quality Everyday Extraordinary Award.

The awards, given to just two hospitals in the state this year, recognize rural hospitals that demonstrate measurable improvements in quality and patient safety while developing approaches that can be replicated by other hospitals across the state. Marco Brito, United General director of clinical services, accepted the award at WSHA’s Rural Hospital Leadership Conference in Chelan on June 28.

United General earned recognition for its comprehensive program to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). By combining specific, safety-focused practices with frontline-led quality improvement efforts, the team achieved outstanding results, including reducing catheter days, eliminating CAUTI cases, improving adherence to prevention practices and strengthening staff engagement and accountability.

“This honor reflects the dedication and teamwork of our caregivers, clinicians and physicians," Brito said. “By focusing on evidence-based practices and empowering frontline teams to identify opportunities for improvement, we've created a safer environment for our patients and strengthened our culture of quality."

The second award went to Coupeville-based WhidbeyHealth.

“These programs show how rural hospitals are finding innovative ways to improve care and deliver better outcomes for patients,” Darcy Jaffe, WSHA senior vice president of clinical excellence, said in a statement. “Both organizations achieved measurable results that can serve as models for hospitals across Washington.”

About PeaceHealth: PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a non-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, nearly 3,200 physicians and clinicians, more than 160 clinics and 9 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.