Safety

Our Audacious Goal

By 2015, Empire Health Services plans to be #1 in the nation for patient, employee and physician safety.

These are not empty words. Safety activities in process include involvement in the 100,000 Lives program, Risk-to-Fall programs, National Patient Safety Goals, standardization efforts and other activities.

100,000 Lives Campaign

We are proud to participate in this nationwide initiative of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). The IHI believes that by using very carefully outlined interventions consistently at participating hospitals, we can save 100,000 lives in one year’s time. Each of these interventions has been studied and been found to be the most successful, “best practice” treatment. Components of this program include the following.

Deploy Rapid Response Teams…at the first sign of patient decline (get specialty help early)
Deliver Reliable, Evidence-Based Care for Acute Myocardial Infarction…to prevent deaths from heart attack
Prevent Adverse Drug Events (ADEs)…by implementing medication reconciliation
Prevent Central Line Infections…by implementing a series of interdependent, scientifically grounded steps called the “Central Line Bundle”
Prevent Surgical Site Infections…by reliably delivering the correct perioperative care
Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia…by implementing a series of interdependent, scientifically grounded steps called the “Ventilator Bundle”

Standardization Efforts

Standardization is a recognized way to avoid errors and inefficiency. From department to department, you will find consistent, quality equipment and processes. Currently being standardized are eyewash, code carts, defibrillators and a transition process using a team approach for communication about patients.

National Patient Safety Goals

Each year, the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations identifies goals for the year to improve safety of patients. Since we are accredited by the JCAHO, we have or will be incorporating these goals in our care. A list of the 2007 goals can be found at JCAHO.

A Safe Culture

Our organization is working hard to create an open, safe culture, where less-than-ideal situations are recognized to be most often a failure in process, rather than simple human error. This philosophy allows us to move immediately into the process improvement and action plan stages.

Contacts:

Patient Safety Manager, Dianne Huggar 473-2591
Dianne had special training from the IHI and works closely with our Risk Management, Performance Improvement, Infection Control and Utilization Review to improve safety for our patients, employees and physicians.

Environmental Safety Manager, Randy Benson 473-5959
Randy has been keeping Deaconess and Valley safe for many years. He is the one who makes sure there is no dust, no fire hazards and no outdated tubing or foods within the hospital. He is instrumental to making sure our employees get the education they need to safely care for their patients and know how to act in emergency situations.