North Mississippi Health Services Transforms Care in Rural Communities with Premier

Key Takeaways:

• North Mississippi Health Services (NMHS) faced challenges common to rural healthcare, including limited access to services, disparities tied to social determinants of health and the complexities of implementing value-based care.
• Through a partnership with Premier, NMHS leveraged real-time data insights from enhanced benchmarking capabilities and tailored support to drive improvements in care delivery and operational efficiency as part of the 100 Top Hospitals® Performance Collaborative.
• NMHS achieved measurable outcomes, including a sepsis bundle compliance rate of 80 percent, improved patient outcomes and reduced length of stay – strengthening its ability to proactively address challenges and positioning itself as a leader in rural healthcare.

North Mississippi Health Services (NMHS), headquartered in Tupelo, MS, provides essential healthcare across 24 counties in Mississippi and Alabama. With seven acute care hospitals, four long-term care facilities and a comprehensive outpatient network, NMHS plays a critical role in meeting the needs of its largely rural population.

Delivering high-quality care can come with a range of challenges, including limited access to services, disparities tied to social determinants of health and the complexities of implementing value-based care—challenges especially pronounced in rural settings. To address these issues and drive continuous improvement, NMHS relies on its longstanding partnership with Premier, combining data-driven insights with expert guidance to enhance care delivery and operational performance.

Laying the Groundwork: Establishing a Culture of Improvement

NMHS’s journey toward performance excellence began with its participation in Premier’s 100 Top Hospitals® Performance Collaborative. The collaborative provided NMHS with a comprehensive framework for benchmarking performance, identifying improvement opportunities and implementing best practices shared among high-performing health systems nationwide.

“The 100 Top Hospitals® Performance Collaborative was a game changer for us,” said Melody Poole, NMHS’s Chief Quality Officer. “It allowed us to see how we compared to other organizations and pinpoint areas for improvement. The cooperative nature of the collaborative meant we weren’t working in isolation—we had a network of peers to learn from and share ideas with.”

Through the 100 Top Hospitals® Performance Collaborative, NMHS addressed critical areas such as infection prevention and patient safety, fostering a culture of continuous improvement that remains central to its operations.

Tackling Sepsis with Data and Strategic Guidance

One of NMHS’s most significant challenges was improving sepsis care. Low compliance with sepsis bundle protocols had previously led to longer hospital stays and poorer outcomes. To address this, NMHS turned to the 100 Top Hospitals® Performance Collaborative for targeted support.

“Our sepsis care wasn’t where it needed to be,” said Poole. “Premier helped us dig into the data and identify bottlenecks. They worked collaboratively with our team to develop workflows that ensured timely and consistent care.”

Together, the team restructured workflows, standardized sepsis protocols and implemented protocols designed to achieve timely and consistent care delivery across all facilities. As a result, NMHS improved sepsis bundle compliance to 80 percent, exceeding national benchmarks.

“This was a turning point,” said Poole. “We saw immediate improvements in patient outcomes and hospital efficiency.”

Real-Time Insights for Proactive Decision-Making

To sustain and accelerate progress, NMHS adopted Premier’s INsights platform, which surfaces critical performance data into real-time dashboards. This capability has revolutionized how NMHS monitors its operations and identifies improvement opportunities.

“INsights gives us instant visibility into key metrics like readmissions and length of stay,” said Poole. “We no longer have to wait weeks for reports. Instead, our teams can access the data they need in real time and make decisions that impact patient care and operational efficiency immediately.”

The platform’s user-friendly design enables NMHS leaders to drill down into specific performance areas, spot trends and implement targeted interventions faster than ever before. For example, real-time monitoring has allowed NMHS to quickly adjust care strategies for high-risk patients, helping to reduce avoidable readmissions.

“This tool not only saves us time but also enhances the accuracy and timeliness of our decisions,” said Poole. “It’s an essential component of our broader strategy to continuously improve and stay ahead in today’s fast-changing healthcare environment.”

A Partnership Driving Continuous Progress

Looking ahead, NMHS is actively working toward its goal of being recognized as one of Premier’s 100 Top Hospitals®, a reflection of its commitment to advancing healthcare in rural communities.

“This isn’t just about achieving a ranking—it’s about constantly pushing ourselves to improve,” said Poole. “And Premier is a true partner. They help us stay focused and provide the tools and expertise necessary to help ensure we’re always moving forward.”

With a focus on innovation and sustainable growth, NMHS is poised to continue raising the bar for rural healthcare, ensuring its patients and communities receive the highest standard of care.

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