Quality and Safety News
This is a collection of news from UNC Health Care related to quality and safety initiatives.
$50,000 Seed Grants Awarded
Six projects have been awarded $50,000 each as part of the IHQI's Seed Grant program.
UNC-led project dramatically reduces newborn bloodstream infections in North Carolina
A quality improvement project championed by the UNC-led Perinatal Quality Collaborative of North Carolina (PQCNC) resulted in a 71 percent reduction in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in 13 North Carolina NICUs, avoiding 110 infections annually and saving 17 lives a year. Study results were published in Pediatrics, official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Improved patient handoffs result from 2011 Patient Safety Culture Survey
Andrea Dicus, CNIII, Intermediate Surgical Care Unit (ISCU), is co-chair of the Nursing Handoffs and Transitions Task Force, which recommends using of a new standardized handoff tool to create safer patient handoffs at shift changes. Without the information gathered during the 2009 and 2011 Patient Safety Culture Surveys, the tool might not have been implemented, so be sure to take this year’s survey!
'Good Things' from 3 Anderson
Two weeks ago we featured Nurse Paige Roberts and the 'Three Good Things' tool of 3 Anderson as a reminder to take the 2013 Patient Safety Culture Survey before Nov. 20! Check out just a few examples of the the 'good things' from 3 Anderson!
UNC Medical Center Improvement Council established
Dr. William Roper, Dean of the UNC School of Medicine and CEO of UNC Health Care, has created a new UNC Medical Center Improvement Council to review performance data, set and measure goals, and manage resources related to health care quality improvement.
Pignone tapped to lead new UNC Institute for Health Care Quality Improvement
Michael Pignone, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine and Division Chief of General Medicine and Epidemiology, has been named director of the UNC Institute for Health Care Quality Improvement, which aims to establish UNC as the leading academic medical center in the area of clinical quality improvement. The new institute is a product of the UNC School of Medicine’s Strategic Plan.
UNC Hospitals receives national recognition from American College of Surgeons
This recognition program commends a select group of hospitals for achieving exemplary outcome performances related to patient management in five clinical areas.
August Privacy/Security Tip of the Month
August's tip of the month is a UNC Health Care Privacy and Information Security Awareness Event.
UNC Hospitals Honored By American Hospital Association for Quality, Safety, and Patient Care
UNC Hospitals was honored as a finalist for the coveted American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize.
UNC Hospitals qualifies for American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline Gold Level Performance Achievement Award for heart attack care
The award recognizes UNC Hospitals’ commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients that effectively improves the survival and care of STEMI (ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction) patients.
July Privacy/Security Tip of the Month
July's tip of the month is "Properly Completing Interoffice Envelopes."
UNC Health Care and Rex Healthcare Given Top Grades for Patient Safety in National Report
Two Hospitals Receive the Only “A” Grades in the Triangle.
Patient Information Release Forms now available online
Patient Information Release Forms for public relations and medical purposes are now available via the Intranet's "Forms" page.
Patient Privacy - A message from Dr. Lindsey
Please read the following reminder regarding our patient privacy practices from Dr. Tony Lindsey, UNC Hospitals' Chief of Staff.
First group of physicians on track to achieving Meaningful Use
Practice Quality and Innovation (PQI) wants to recognize the progress being made by providers and clinical areas in their use of the electronic health record in a “meaningful” way.
February Privacy/Security Tip of the Month
The topic this month is: Security of Workstations in Shared, Open, or Public Access Areas.
Privacy/Security Tip of the Month
The January 2012 Tip of the Month is: Do Not Respond to E-mails Requesting Personal Information!
Deborah L. Radisch, MD, MPH
Deborah L. Radisch, MD, MPH is Professor and Chief Medical Examiner in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. She is an expert on forensic pathology, injury prevention, child fatality prevention.
UNC Hospitals named one of 65 'Top Hospitals' for patient safety and quality
UNC Hospitals is the only hospital in North Carolina that made the Leapfrog 2011 Top Hospitals list.
Policy change for visitors of patients on Contact Precautions
Beginning Oct. 1, visitors of patients who are on Contact Precautions will no longer be required to wear gloves and a gown while visiting in the Contact Precautions room. This policy change is consistent with the CDC recommendations for the control of multi-drug resistance bacteria.