For Immediate Release
February 9, 2004

Contact: Maria E. Ramos
Interim Manager, Public Relations and Marketing
(219) 865-2141, ext. 45321
Maria.Ramos@ssfhs.org

Karen Wade
Director, Home Care Services and Prime Advantage
(219) 932-2300, ext. 34950
Karen.Wade@ssfhs.org

HAMMOND, Ind. – Saint Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers Home Care, in collaboration with 9 other home health agencies across Indiana, is voluntarily participating in a program to improve the health care of diabetic patients. Facilitated by Health Care Excel, the Indiana Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO), this collaborative encourages home health agencies to share ideas, knowledge, and methodologies for improving diabetic care.

Saint Margaret Mercy Home Care will focus on demonstrating measurable improvements in quality of care and patient outcomes related to blood sugar (A1c) testing, yearly dilated eye exams, diabetic foot care, blood pressure maintenance, and immunizations in an effort to further improve the care of its diabetic patients. The Indiana Medicare QIO will provide the participating agencies with materials, technical support, and strategies to streamline and improve existing care delivery systems.

“This collaborative provides an opportunity for Saint Margaret Mercy Home Care to share best practices and work closely with other home health agencies in Indiana that are committed to improving diabetic care,” says Rebecca Royer, clinical coordinator of the Home Health Quality Initiative at Health Care Excel. “We share a common goal of improving the quality of health care provided to home health patients in Indiana. By participating in this collaborative, Saint Margaret Mercy Home Care is taking extra measures to ensure quality care—especially to people with diabetes.”

Saint Margaret Mercy Home Care serves Lake County in Northwest Indiana and southeast Cook and northeast Will counties in Illinois. Saint Margaret Mercy Home Care is accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program and is Medicare certified.

Health Care Excel is a private, not-for-profit, consulting firm and serves as the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Indiana. As part of its contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health Care Excel focuses on health care quality improvement initiatives, awareness of Medicare patients’ rights, and consumer protection.