ILWACO — Ocean Beach Hospital and Medical Clinics (OBHMC) this year again won a Critical Access Hospital Achievement of Quality Excellence Award for quality-improvement measures it implemented and submitted to the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA).

OBHMC’s achievement was recognized at WSHA’s 2024 Rural Hospital Leadership Conference held in Chelan in late June.

“This and every award we receive demonstrates your public hospital’s persistence in providing the best possible health care for those in this community,” interim CEO Larry Cohen said in a written statement. “The Achievement of Quality Excellence Award is particularly significant as OBHMC is evaluated on specific measures and had to do well on each to be honored.

“Congratulations to our medical professionals and staff for their ongoing commitment to excellence and their well-deserved recognition.”

OBHMC was one of 13 rural hospitals across the state recognized for its voluntary participation in WSHA’s Critical Access Hospital Achievement of Quality Excellence Program. OBHMC worked on quality improvement measures and submitted data on each. The measures fall into several categories: infection prevention, sepsis, equity, diagnostic excellence, behavioral health, seclusion and restraint, workforce safety, safe deliveries, and climate change.

“The Critical Access Hospital Achievement of Quality Excellence program showcases our smallest and most rural hospitals’ commitment to providing care in their communities,” WSHA Senior Vice President of Safety and Quality Darcy Jaffe said. “Their dedication to improvement exemplifies the spirit of safety and quality in patient care.”

This is WSHA’s second year honoring Critical Access hospitals for tracking performance and the second time OBHMC has been recognized. Critical Access hospitals are those with 25 or fewer beds, that are located more than 35 miles from another hospital, maintain an average length of stay of 96 hours or less for acute care patients, and provide 24/7 emergency care services.