ST. FRANCIS, SOUTHEAST PICKED FOR PILOT PROJECT

Three area hospitals were selected to participate in a pilot program designed to improve patient care across the country.

Southeast Missouri Hospital, St. Francis Medical Center of Cape Girardeau and Perry County Memorial Hospital of Perryville, Mo., were among 18 Missouri hospitals selected to participate in the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization's new core measures initiative.

The initiative is expected to become a national standard for hospital performance measurement in 2002.

Missouri is one of five states chosen to report to the joint commission about its new performance measurement requirements. Other participating states are Connecticut, Georgia, Michigan and Rhode Island.

Missouri hospitals will study acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and pneumonia and report their early experience to the Joint Commission.