SALINAS VALLEY — Mee Memorial Healthcare System (MMHS) was awarded the highest rating of “Superior Performance” by the Cal Hospital Compare Opioid Care Honor Roll for consistently achieving the highest level of performance, and implementing advanced, innovative opioid stewardship strategies across multiple service lines.
According to Cal Hospital Compare, more than 21,000 emergency room visits were related to opioid overdoses in 2022. To accelerate hospital progress in building systems to treat hospitalized patients with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and train health care professionals in opioid safety practices, Cal Hospital Compare developed the California Opioid Care Honor Roll Program.
The goal of the program is increased access to addiction treatment for hospitalized patients and reduction of opioid-related deaths. All California adult, acute care hospitals were invited to participate, and 157 hospitals voluntarily submitted data sharing their progress on implementing evidence-based practices to address the opioid crisis.
The 157 participating hospitals represent almost half of all adult, acute care hospitals in California. Participating hospitals reflect a diverse cross section of all California hospitals across rural, urban and academic care settings.
The 2024 Opioid Care Honor Roll program saw a 40% increase in participation over the prior year, which signals the ongoing commitment of California hospitals to address opioid use disorder in their communities.
“We are honored to receive the highest rating for the Cal Hospital Compare Opioid Care Honor Roll again,” said Noah Hawthorne, MD, Mee Memorial’s Chief Medical Officer. “It is a testament to the hard work of our dedicated team who strive every day to make a positive impact on the health of our community.”
Only 55 hospitals achieved “Superior Performance,” of which MMHS was one. The 2024 Opioid Care Honor roll recognizes four tiers of performance: Superior Performance, Excellent Progress, Most Improved and Sustained Improvement.
Mee Memorial Healthcare System is dedicated to providing culturally sensitive, patient-centered healthcare with the highest standards of service. With a hospital in King City and multiple outpatient clinics, including the comprehensive Albert and Donna Oliveira Clinic in Greenfield, MMHS serves as the primary healthcare provider for nearly 80,000 residents across southern Monterey County.
For more information, visit meememorial.com.
