2012 Fine Awards for Teamwork Excellence in Health Care

Three local teams are recipients of the fifth annual Fine Awards for Teamwork Excellence in Health Care. The awards were presented during a reception at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture Thursday evening. Sponsored by The Fine Foundation and the Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF), the Fine Awards were established to reinforce the critical role teamwork plays in health care. The theme of this year's awards is "Transitions of Care Partnerships," focusing on improving outcomes for patients who are transitioning in and out of, or between, different types of care settings and providers.

"This year's winners illustrate the dramatic difference that good transitions and integrated care teams can make to patient outcomes," said Milton Fine, president and chairman of The Fine Foundation. "By putting the needs of the patient first, these organizations have come up with creative solutions to break down the silos that have historically separated different care settings and created confusion, delay, and needless suffering."

A distinguished team of regional and national experts comprised the selection committee that selected the winners. "With the growing awareness of the need for improved outcomes, more healthcare providers are turning to continuous improvement models, or Lean methodology, as an effective way to design and deliver better care. We were delighted with the caliber and quantity of entries, which proves that the ongoing work of organizations like the Jewish Healthcare Foundation and Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative results in the successful dissemination of these best practices," said Karen Wolk Feinstein, president and CEO of JHF.

The 2012 Fine Awards for Teamwork Excellence in Transitions of Care Partnerships:
  • Gold Award Winner

    UPMC Montefiore and Montefiore Rehabilitation Institute
    Preventing Transplant Readmissions through Good Discharge Planning

  • Silver Award Winner

    Excela Health Latrobe and Westmoreland Hospitals
    Reducing Observation Status Wait Times

  • Bronze Award Winner

    Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC & Children's Community Pediatrics & Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC
    Early Access to Integrated Behavioral Health Services in the Pediatric Medical Home