Thirteen Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) were awarded a certificate of special recognition from OFMQ for their participation in reporting hospital quality data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) National Data Warehouse throughout four quarters in 2004 and 2005. Although CAHs are not required to collect and report clinical quality data to CMS, these hospitals made a commitment to improving the quality of care by reporting this information.

Speakers included national and local health care experts such as Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association and Dr. Dale Bratzler from OFMQ. Presenters discussed health information technology, physician retention and legal and managerial issues. A panel discussed issues and challenges with physician recruitment in rural Oklahoma hospitals.

Nearly 200 professionals from 63 hospitals across Oklahoma attended the two-day conference that served as a catalyst for positive change in Oklahoma’s rural hospitals. Participants at the conference said, “The administration from our hospital was here and now realizes how important their participation is,” and “I learned something new from all of the presentations.”

Award recipients include: Atoka Memorial Hospital, Cleveland Area Hospital, Fairfax Memorial Hospital, Harper County Community Hospital, Holdenville General Hospital, Kingfisher Regional Hospital, Logan Medical Center, Mary Hurley Hospital, Mary Hurley Hospital, Okeene Municipal Hospital, Prague Municipal Hospital, Southwestern Memorial Hospital, St. John Sapulpa and Stroud Medical Center.