Rhode Island Hospital's Medical Intensive Care Unit Receives National Award

July 28, 2004

The Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at Rhode Island Hospital was named a Circle of Life Award honoree. The Circle of Life Award celebrates programs that have made great strides in palliative and end-of-life care. Rhode Island Hospital is one of only ten organizations from across the country honored this year by the Circle of Life Award Program. The MICU was recognized for its outstanding program of caring for patients near the end of life or with life-threatening conditions.

Mitchell Levy, MD, director of the MICU, accepted the award at a dinner on Monday. "The MICU at Rhode Island Hospital takes pride in all of the care we provide for our patients, especially end-of-life care. We focus on providing our patients with the dignity they deserve while helping their loved ones during a difficult time. This award is a tribute to the efforts of all the MICU staff and we are truly honored to receive this recognition."

"Rhode Island Hospital has made great strides in end-of-life and palliative care. Their program reflects the importance they put on serving patients, families and those around them," said AHA President Dick Davidson. "That's why they're receiving the Circle of Life Award Citation of Merit."

Rhode Island Hospital's MICU was chosen by a selection committee made up of leaders from medicine, nursing, social work, and health administration. The committee focused on innovative programs that respect patient goals and preferences, provide comprehensive care, acknowledge and address the family or caregivers' concerns and needs, and build systems and mechanisms of support to continue the program for future patients and caregivers.

The awards are supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in Princeton, N.J and are sponsored by the American Hospital Association, the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, the American Medical Association and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

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