2013 Fine Awards for Teamwork Excellence in Health Care

On Thursday, November 21, three local teams were honored as recipients of the sixth annual Fine Awards for Teamwork Excellence in Health Care. The awards were presented during an evening reception at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture. KDKA's Jon Burnett MC'd the event. Sponsored by The Fine Foundation and the Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF), the Fine Awards reinforce the critical role teamwork plays in health care. The theme of this year's awards was "Care at the End of Life," focusing on helping patients make informed decisions and ease physical, emotional, and financial burdens at the end of life.

"This year's winners show a deep commitment to putting patients first in end-of-life decisions," said Milton Fine, chairman of The Fine Foundation. "Through ingenuity and teamwork, they partner with patients and families to ensure patient dignity, and that patient preferences for how they want to live out the end of their lives are honored."

A distinguished panel of regional and national experts selected the winners based on evidence of data focused on a number of criteria including informed choices, pain management, and advanced directives.

"Increasingly, healthcare providers recognize the roadblocks patients face in receiving the end-of-life care that they want and need," said Karen Wolk Feinstein, president and CEO of JHF. "We are proud to partner with The Fine Foundation to honor the excellent work being done locally to eliminate gaps in care and align financial incentives with desired treatment options. Medical care during life's final stages consumes substantial healthcare dollars and is often inattentive to patient preferences. This year's entries illustrate the importance of organizations like the Jewish Healthcare Foundation and Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative in spreading best practices."

The 2013 Fine Awards for Teamwork Excellence in Care at End of Life:
  • Gold Award Winner

    Highmark
    Enhancing Care at End-of-Life through Advanced Illness Services

  • Silver Award Winner

    UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute
    Palliative Care Integration Across the Continuum

  • Bronze Award Winner

    Community LIFE
    Honoring Choice