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NEWS FROM
CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE
February 13, 2009
Cambridge Health Alliance Honored for Depression Treatment Initiative
Cambridge, MA...Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) announced
today that it has received the 2008 H. Richard Nesson Award for
Excellence from Partners Community Healthcare, Inc. (PCHI). The
award honors CHA's Interdisciplinary Team for Improving the Care
of Patients with Depression and was presented at PCHI's annual Physician
Day, held on February 7 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place.
CHA, which operates three hospital campuses and a network of community-based
health centers that serve Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston's Metro-North
region, was recognized for its efforts to improve the quality of
care for patients with newly diagnosed depression. CHA assembled
its Interdisciplinary Team in 2007 to ensure patients who had been
diagnosed with depression and prescribed an antidepressant medication
had three contacts with their care teams during the 12-week acute
phase of treatment.
Among the elements of the quality improvement program were the
development of a primary care depression toolkit, a sophisticated
data report to monitor care, training sessions on depression management
for nurses, physicians, and other care team members, and readily
available psychiatric consultation. The results have been significant,
as the number of patients receiving the recommended three contacts
has more than tripled since the program's implementation.
"The awards committee was impressed with the initiative and
vision CHA showed in designing its program," said Jennifer
Daley, MD, PCHI's Chief Medical Officer. "CHA's success in
improving its care to a high level relative to the rest of the country
is especially notable given its multicultural and often economically
disadvantaged patient population."
Partners Community Healthcare, Inc. (PCHI), established in 1994
shortly after the creation of the Partners HealthCare system, is
affiliated with more than 1,000 internists, pediatricians and family
practice physicians and over 3,500 specialists who provide care
to more than 1.5 million patients. The Nesson Awards are named for
H. Richard Nesson, MD, PCHI's founder and a former president of
Partners HealthCare. The annual awards honor PCHI physicians and
groups who exemplify his commitment to improving care.
Cambridge Health Alliance is an innovative, award-winning
health system that provides high quality care in Cambridge, Somerville,
and Boston's metro-north communities. It includes three hospital
campuses, a network of primary care and specialty practices, the
Cambridge Public Health Dept., and the Network Health plan. CHA
is a Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate and is also affiliated
with Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard School of Dental Medicine,
and Tufts University School of Medicine. Visit us online at www.challiance.org.
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Media Contact
David Cecere
Media Relations Manager
Phone: 617-503-8428
Cell: 617-921-9613
Pager: 617-546-1879
dcecere@challiance.org
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