Safety


Our Audacious Goal: By 2015, Valley Hospital and Medical Center 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 Benson is the EHS Assistant Vice President for Safety and Performance Improvement. Randy recently accepted this position after many years at EHS as leader for environmental safety and staff education. He now leads EHS in such varied activities as performance improvement, patient and environment of care safety, Six Sigma process improvement, disaster preparedness and monitoring patient care to ensure patient safety and best practice. Feel free to contact any member of the Safety Committee<Safety-06 committee members> with questions.