BOSTON, May 3, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Patient Safety Foundation, a central voice for health care safety since 1997, has announced the recipients of the 2016 Stand Up for Patient Safety Management Awards.
U.S. Naval Hospital, Guam, is being recognized for a program implemented in the Family Medicine Clinic that resulted in a dramatic improvement in medication reconciliation.
Fairview Health Services is being recognized for a program to improve the management of biological specimens across its 6 hospitals.
The Stand Up for Patient Safety Management Award is presented each year in recognition of the successful implementation of outstanding patient safety initiatives by organizational members of the NPSF Stand Up for Patient Safety program. The 2016 awards will be conferred during the 18th Annual NPSF Patient Safety Congress, May 23-25, in Scottsdale, AZ.
Medication reconciliation is a key priority for patient safety that involves reviewing each patient's medications at every encounter. The goals are to avoid adverse drug events as well as the use of medications that may no longer be appropriate for that patient. Through random review of patient charts, the team at U.S. Naval Hospital, Guam, Family Medicine Clinic identified medication reconciliation as an area for improvement. They put together a multidisciplinary team that reviewed their processes and developed an 11-step Standard Operating Procedure. As a result, medication reconciliation accuracy in the medical record increased from 45% to 95%, eventually reaching 99%.
"Our team was determined to improve the medication reconciliation process in order to mitigate or prevent medication-related errors," says LCDR Ladonyia Graham, NC, Family Medicine Clinic, U.S. Naval Hospital, Guam. "Perhaps most important of all, the solutions we put in place have proven to help our team remain sustainable as well as effective."
Fairview Health Services, an academic health system affiliated with the University of Minnesota, includes 6 hospitals as well as primary care clinics, specialty clinics, pharmacies, and senior homes. As part of a system-wide strategic goal of clinical excellence, they sought to proactively prevent errors related to the management of biological specimens (such as tumor cells for biopsy). The team conducted a Failure Modes and Effects Analysis, a method of analyzing risk at each step in a complex process. The procedure they put in place includes standardization of the surgical debrief, standardized intraoperative handoff of specimens, and the ability to print specimen labels in the OR. These efforts have resulted in a 70% decrease in the risk of specimen mismanagement.
"Our goal was to prevent a serious error related to specimen management," says Susan Noaker, PhD, LP, project manager, Surgical Services, Fairview. "This work has increased the safety of the care we provide to nearly 17,000 Fairview patients who undergo procedures involving biological specimens at our hospitals each year."
"We believe the most effective way to create a culture of excellence for patient safety is to engage staff, nurses, physicians, and managers at all levels," says Beth Thomas, DO, Fairview Interim Chief Medical Officer. "This ensures patient safety is top of mind for everyone and helps us achieve our vision of driving a healthier future for patients."
The Stand Up for Patient Safety Management Award is conferred annually to organizational members of the NPSF Stand Up for Patient Safety program in recognition of the successful implementation of an outstanding patient safety initiative that was led, or created, by mid-level management. Eligible initiatives are those that have demonstrated evidence of patient safety improvement, with involvement of staff at all levels of the organization.
"On behalf of the entire NPSF team and our boards, I want to congratulate U.S. Naval Hospital, Guam, and Fairview Health Services for their outstanding work," says Tejal K. Gandhi, MD, MPH, CPPS, president and CEO, NPSF. "These projects offer more evidence that our Stand Up members are truly leading the way in innovations to improve patient safety."
About the National Patient Safety Foundation
The National Patient Safety Foundation's vision is to create a world where patients and those who care for them are free from harm. A central voice for patient safety since 1997, NPSF partners with patients and families, the health care community, and key stakeholders to advance patient safety and health care workforce safety and disseminate strategies to prevent harm. NPSF is an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Follow @theNPSF on twitter.
About the NPSF Stand Up for Patient Safety Program
The Stand Up for Patient Safety program at NPSF caters to hospitals, health systems, physician offices, ambulatory facilities, and other entities focused on improving the safety of health care. Membership provides the support and education necessary to embed patient safety principles into organizational practice and align with national patient safety goals and critical regulatory requirements. Through participation, Stand Up members around the world gain access to field-tested tools and resources, expertly designed educational programs, and the invaluable support network created by the National Patient Safety Foundation. Visit the website to learn more.