VHQC, a health quality consulting company established in 1984, bestowed its Quality Innovation Award on Columbia, Md.-based Howard County General Hospital for its reduction in hospital-acquired infections.
The award is given to the top 10 percent of hospitals in Maryland and Virginia, based on patient safety scores. All hospitals in the VHQC Maryland-Virginia HAI Improvement Network were eligible based on 2015 performance, and just four awards were granted in Maryland.
"The patient experience and patient safety are our primary focus at Howard County General Hospital," Steven Snelgrove, the hospital's president, said in a statement. "We are proud to be recognized for the steps we take every day to ensure we are providing the highest quality care to our patients."