July 2, 2008

Regions Hospital Wins National Innovation Award
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - Regions Hospital has been named a 2008 Alliance Innovation Award winner. The Alliance of Independent Academic Medical Centers (AIAMC) presents the award on an annual basis to its institutional members that best exemplify creative and innovative approaches to medical education and research which result in better patient outcomes. The institution selected for this prestigious honor must demonstrate an institution-wide change in one of the following categories:

• The development and/or implementation of innovative medical education programs for residents, physicians and other staff or
• The development and/or application of scientific discoveries.

Regions Hospital was selected for their outstanding contribution to the 2007-08 AIAMC National Initiative: Improving Patient Care through GME. Regions Hospital was selected to participate based upon their demonstrated leadership in utilizing graduate medical education as a key driver to improve quality, patient safety, and the cost-effectiveness of care. "Both the public and our profession acknowledge that quality and safety efforts are falling short, and many hospitals and healthcare systems are seeking rapid improvements in patient care," stated Kimberly Pierce-Boggs, Executive Director of the AIAMC. She continued, "Those of us in academic medicine realize that residents play an important role in patient care at teaching institutions; however, residents are generally not visible in safety and quality efforts." The National Initiative has created resident-driven quality improvement efforts shared across multiple programs and systems across the United States. Regions Hospital was honored for their key role in this successful venture which has resulted in improved patient outcomes.

The Alliance of Independent Academic Medical Centers is a national membership organization made up of 60 major academic medical centers and health systems committed to quality patient care, medical education and research. AIAMC members regard medical education and research as strategic assets in providing patient-centered care; operate independently of medical school ownership or governance while maintaining major medical school affiliations; care for a patient population that mirrors their local communities; and provide teaching and research that is innovative, applicable to practice and community responsive. For more information on the AIAMC and its membership, visit www.aiamc.org.

Regions Hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center and teaching hospital serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin for more than 130 years. Regions is a premier, full-service, private hospital providing outstanding medical and surgical care with special programs in heart, women's care, cancer, orthopedics, neurology, burn and emergency care. Regions is part of the HealthPartners family of health care organizations. More information about the hospital is available at www.regionshospital.com.

Contact: Kimberly Pierce-Boggs
kimberly@aiamc.org
312.836.3712