The Norman Transcript

VHA Inc., a national health care alliance, has recognized Norman Regional Health System for providing excellent care to patients in its intensive care unit.

The VHA Transformation of the ICU Award for Clinical Excellence honors organizations that have distinguished themselves from other VHA members by meeting or exceeding national performance standards in specific clinical categories. The hospital was honored at VHA's Transformation of the ICU Collaborative Conference in Chicago April 23.

The VHA Transformation of the ICU collaborative started five years ago this June. Organizations work together to improve patient outcomes using evidence-based care. Norman Regional was one of 19 hospitals to win the award for ICU care out of 41 participating nationally. Norman was the only hospital to receive three national awards for its work in blood stream infections, glucose control and sepsis implementation within an ICU.

"We are very proud of the work that is occurring in the ICU in Norman. We have the best outcomes in all three of the ongoing studies for all ICU's participating in the project -- which translates into improved patient care and outcomes. None of our achievement would be possible without our dedicated beside nurses who care for our patients 24/7," said ICU manager Buffie McTasney, RN.

Patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit often are sicker than other patients, and therefore are more susceptible to developing complications. Providing superior care to these patients can reduce the likelihood for complications that could lengthen hospital stays.

"By applying evidence-based measures into a critical care patient's plan of care, we are able to monitor and measure the overall rate of improvement in our patients," said Mark A. Camp, M.D. intensivist at Norman Regional and physician champion that put the VHA patient protocol in place.