Hospital named Medical Main Street's INNO-VATOR of the Year

St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital was named Medical Main Street's 2015 INNO-VATOR of the Year for its Intelligent Care System, a suite of 11 technology solutions integrated to create a safer patient environment as well as improve efficiency of the clinical staff.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson made the announcement Wednesday during Medical Main Street's INNO-VENTION reception, presented by Oakland University. The event was held at Petruzzello's Banquet Hall in Troy.

"Congratulations to St. Joseph Mercy Oakland and CEO Jack Weiner on being singled out for its Intelligent Care System," Patterson said. "We have many great institutions that dot Medical Main Street. This is quite an honor for St. Joes to be recognized as the best among the best."

The INNO-VATOR of the Year award, now in its fourth year, honors the business or organization that has created a device, technology or process that significantly impacts the medical device, biotech or life science industries.

"St. Joe's is committed to advancing patient care, safety and clinical quality through the development and deployment of innovative IT solutions," said Jack Weiner, president and CEO of St. Joseph Mercy Oakland. "We value our partnership with Medical Main Street, and are honored that our Intelligent Care System has received this recognition."

The Intelligent Care System is designed to reduce avoidable risks to patient care such as hospital-acquired infections, falls, and to improve patient satisfaction through improved communication and more efficient service and care. The technologies in this project are integrated with each other and the hospital electronic health record. This patient centered integrated technology solution has resulted in: reduction in falls, increased hand hygiene compliance, zero hospital-acquired infections in the first quarter and increased patient satisfaction scores.

As winner, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland receives $10,000 in cash and services, including promotions through Oakland County media channels, a customized video, recognition in the county's PROSPER electronic newsletter, business plan and marketing plan assistance through the Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Center, funding consultation through OU Inc and a one-year membership in Automation Alley.

Sponsors for Wednesday's event, along with Oakland University, include St. John Providence Health System, Stryker, Priority Health, Oakland Regional Hospital, Michigan Health & Hospital Association, McLaren Oakland, Beaumont Health, OpTech, the city of Southfield, St. Joseph Mercy Health System, Oakland County Community College, Automation Alley, Healthcare Michigan and PNC Bank.

In 2014, Ann Arbor-based OcuSciences won recognition for its proprietary, ocular imaging technique, Retinal Metabolic AnalysisTM (RMA), as a non-invasive, rapid biomarker for measuring the damage to retinal tissue due to diabetes, macular degeneration and glaucoma. In 2013, Ann Arbor-based HistoSonics won for its Vortx Rx® device that uses sound energy to treat tissue inside the body without the need for traditional surgery. In 2012, Sentio LLC of Southfield and Ablative Solutions of Kalamazoo were each named co-winners. Sentio created a device to alert doctors when nerves are at risk during surgery and Ablative Solutions' technology treats hypertension.

Medical Main Street, powered by Oakland County, is a collaboration of world renowned hospitals, universities and health care and life science companies in Southeast Michigan. Patterson created the initiative in 2008 to harness the strength of the area's health care, life science, research and development, education and manufacturing assets. For more information, visit MedicalMainStreet.com.

The Medical Main Street board includes representatives from: Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Beaumont Health, Beckman Coulter Molecular Diagnostics, Crittenton Hospital, Detroit Medical Center, Ferndale Laboratories, Henry Ford Health System, Housey Pharmaceutical Research Laboratories, McLaren Oakland, MichBio, Oakland Community College, Oakland University, Oxus Inc., Priority Health, Rockwell Medical Technologies, St. John Providence Health System, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland and Stryker.

Published: Fri, Sep 18, 2015