Milton Hospital officials announced strong financial and quality gains in 2010 at its Annual Meeting of the Corporation, held on December 1 at Wollaston Golf Club, Milton.

Among the morning’s speakers were three clinical department managers, who described recent strides in quality of care at the 81-bed community hospital, and how the improvements reduced hospital costs. Director of Pharmacy Services Rachel Kleiman-Wexler described new equipment that has eliminated significant medication errors related to intravenous use, while Nursing Director Lynn Cronin and Quality Director Alex Campbell discussed sharp declines in patient falls and hospital acquired infections over the past year. Each of these events adds billions to the cost of health care each year in the US.

Hospital President Joseph Morrissey attributed the hospital’s 2010 volume growth and financial gains to its continuous quality improvement and high patient satisfaction.

“The key to our success has been to have a product that’s the best it can be, and patients who are highly satisfied with the care they receive at Milton Hospital,” Morrissey said. “Milton Hospital has a great staff
that works together at all levels as a team. That makes it easier to accomplish great things.”

Despite an extremely competitive and uncertain healthcare environment, Hospital Board Chairman Michael Brady expressed optimism with the hospital’s future. “We start from a position of strength, with a great
medical and clinical staff and a wonderful facility,” he said, noting that continued volume growth and expense control would be essential to continued success.

Several speakers took time to acknowledge the important contributions of Jay Holleran, the hospital’s former Chief Financial Officer, who passed away in June.

During the meeting, the hospital welcomed eight new corporators: Anne Adrienne, a retired Milton resident and member of the hospital’s Auxiliary; Kai Armstrong, owner of Galatea Fine Jewelry in Milton;
Maureen Conlon, owner of Kneaded Therapy fitness; Shirley Dilibero, a Mass Transit retiree; Bernice Kohn, Director of Volunteers at Milton Hospital; Attorney Philip Murphy; Stuart Rosenberg, MD, President of the
Beth Israel Deaconess Physician Organization; and Gert Williams, former President of the Milton Hospital Auxiliary.

Former Board member Bruce Alexander was re-appointed to the Board of Directors, along with Attorney Anthony Cichello. Donald Greene of Bank of America was appointed to the Milton Hospital Foundation.