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St. Luke’s University Health Network has received a prestigious Achievement Award from The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) for developing and utilizing an innovative approach to reducing hospital readmissions for behavioral health issues.

Under the new approach, a task force was deployed following a behavioral health emergency.  It was described in St. Luke’s submission to HAP titled “A Multidisciplinary Comprehensive Collaborative Approach to Decrease 30-Day Behavioral Health Readmissions and Enhance Care Quality.”

The task force initiated multidisciplinary interventions that were implemented by the Behavioral Health Nurse Navigation, Case Management, Therapeutic Programming, Providers and Crisis teams. The task force was responsible for developing, writing, reviewing and updating care plans for Emergency Department providers and other clinicians. Ultimately, the team dramatically reduced 30-day readmissions and improved the quality of care for behavioral health patients

St. Luke’s innovation was one of 12 health care advances recognized by HAP through its 2023 Achievement Awards. Started in 1978, the program recognizes hospitals and health systems that are taking innovative approaches to strengthening the safety and quality of care, enhancing operations and patients’ experience, and partnering with their communities to address public health needs.

“We are proud to be the only health care network in the Lehigh Valley to earn the HAP Achievement Award,” said Cindi Reade, Network Director of Behavioral Health Inpatient Services. “This recognition reflects St. Luke’s commitment to excellence through ongoing innovation and improvement.”

St. Luke’s competed against organizations of a similar size for the Excellence in Care Award, which celebrates hospitals’ and health systems’ innovative approaches to improving the quality of care. In total, there were 82 entries for this year’s Achievement Awards.

“Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems are dedicated to not just treating illnesses and injuries but being partners in improving the health of their patients and communities,” HAP President and CEO Andy Carter said. “These award-winning projects exemplify the extraordinary work of Pennsylvania’s hospital community to enhance Pennsylvanians’ health; advance health equity; and improve the quality, delivery, and safety of care.”

Additional information about the awards program and detailed descriptions of the winning projects are available online.