“Cirque du Quality,” was the theme at this year’s Performance Improvement competition at King’s Daughters Medical Center, a twist on the “Cirque du Soleil” trapeze and carnival act, and also a fun way to educate the public and hospital staff on departmental initiatives and goals.

For the last five years, the contest has provided a festive and spirited friendly rivalry among departments’ staff in the hospital. It also doubles as a fun – albeit educational – way to educate the public and visiting hospital administrators about King’s Daughters Medical Center.

Each of the 31 separate departments at the hospital was responsible for putting together a collage in the theme of “Cirque du Soleil.”

Included somewhere in each department’s giant collage, were seriously thought-out and considered plans for improving departmental efficiency and increasing patient satisfaction.

While every department had a hand in the contest, there were only three awards to be given out.

Patient financial services won first place with a mock circus tent theme, complete with an animated clown.

Second place was awarded to third floor nursing for an interactive display that used Barbie dolls to illustrate proper bedside manner.

The dietary department of the hospital ended up getting third place for the group’s creatively displayed circus-themed presentation of proper food preparation and storage techniques.

The hospital chose to go with the circus theme for a couple of reasons, according to Merida Johnson, RN, MSN and CPHQ at King’s Daughters Medical Center.

“It’s a way to let people in,” Johnson said. “We take what can be intimidating, or benign, and turn it into something exciting and informative. That is the point,” Johnson continued.

The hospital’s goal is to constantly evolve and to move forward, said David Culpepper, KDMC director of marketing.

October happens to be National Healthcare Quality month, also one of the reasons for the contest.

In a not-unrelated matter, Alvin Hoover, KDMC CEO, appeared before the U.S. House and Senate recently to brief lawmakers on issues small hospitals are facing. One of the items on his organization’s agenda happened to be the integration of different departments in the hospital, and ways to promote and celebrate diversity at the hospital.