PHILADELPHIA (August 10, 2020)— Fox Chase Cancer Center earned the Achievement Award from The Hospital and Health system Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) for its outstanding effort to improve health care in the communities it serves.
Fox Chase’s entry, “Nasogastric Tube Feeding for Radiation-Induced Dysphagia in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer,” was chosen as an Excellence in Care award winner. Twelve projects were selected from 131 submissions. Winners were chosen for their exceptional work and innovation in community health projects, quality improvement efforts, and operational efficiencies.
“Patient safety and care quality improvement is something that any department can do. I would encourage people who are curious about it to go to their organization’s performance improvement department and start a discussion about a possible project,” said project co-head and Speech Pathology Director Barbara Ebersole, BFA, MA, CCC-SLP.
The project was also led by Senior Speech Pathologist Kathleen Donocoff, MS, CCC-SLP. The multidisciplinary team investigated why the use of a nasal feeding tube may better correct swallowing issues experienced by head and neck cancer patients compared to the more typical stomach-linked feeding tube.
“To me, excellence in care means challenging the norm, the everyday. Although we are aware we do good work, we never want to just settle for that,” she said. Ebersole agreed, adding: “Excellence is not where you are. It is something you’re always moving towards. It is never static.”
“Especially in light of the extraordinary challenges that COVID-19 has presented Pennsylvania’s hospital community, we are pleased to honor the recipients of the 2020 HAP Achievement Awards,” said Andy Carter, HAP’s president and chief executive officer.
“These outstanding projects demonstrate the tireless commitment to excellence that Pennsylvania’s hospital community embodies each and every day. We congratulate the winners for their accomplishments.”
Entries were evaluated by a 16-judge panel. The panelists, drawn from Pennsylvania and across the nation, represented the public and private sectors, business organizations, consumer groups, and renowned health care quality institutes.
Fox Chase’s winning team will be recognized at HAP’s 2020 Patient Safety and Quality Symposium, which will be held virtually September 9–10.
HAP’s Achievement Awards program has recognized Pennsylvania hospital excellence since 1978.
ABOUT HAP: HAP is a statewide membership services association that represents nearly 240 organizations, as well as the patients and communities they serve. Additional information about HAP is available online at www.haponline.org.