Orlando Health hospitals awarded an “A” for patient safety by Leap Frog
See how Orlando Health shows its commitment to providing high quality care to patients.
MEDIA CONTACT
Kena Lewis, APR[email protected]
Orlando, FL (May 8, 2013) – Four Orlando Health hospitals were recently honored with their second “A” Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits. The hospitals are Orlando Regional Medical Center, Health Central Hospital, Dr. P. Phillips Hospital and South Seminole Hospital. The “A” score was awarded based on a number of factors including the hospitals’ rates for preventable medical errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. The grades reflect Orlando Health’s commitment to providing high quality care to patients.
“The “A” grades are a direct result of the steps we’ve taken as an organization over the last few years to enhance the quality of care we provide to patients,” said Jamal Hakim, M.D., chief of quality and transformation for Orlando Health. “Not only have we targeted specific areas for quality improvement, we have developed a sustainable structure to support the improvement process, including the naming of Chief Quality Officers (CQO) at each hospital and within our physician group.”
Orlando Health’s Chief Quality Officers are Larry Spack, MD and Donald Plumley, MD – Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children; Arnold Lazar, MD – Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies; Robert Rainer, MD – Orlando Regional Medical Center; Antonio Crespo, MD – Dr. P. Phillips Hospital; Thomas Kelley, MD – South Seminole Hospital; Bart Rodier, MD – Health Central Hospital; Mark Swanson, MD – Orland Health Physician Partners.
“These CQOs are actively involved in leading initiatives focused on the continued improvement of quality metrics within their respective areas and across the system,” said Dr. Hakim. “Their very presence represents Orlando Health’s commitment to continuous improvement of clinical care quality and patient satisfaction. We have affiliated them with their Chief Nursing Officer at each facility, and this affiliation has given us huge capability for change that we did not have before.”
One of Orlando Health’s most successful quality initiatives has resulted in a significant decline in the incidence of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI) across the system. In just five short years, Orlando Health has reduced its CLABSI rate by more than 66 percent. The neurological intensive care unit at Orlando Regional Medical Center has surpassed over 1,260 days (3.4 years) without a single central line associated blood stream infection. At South Seminole Hospital, clinicians have surpassed 370 days for the entire hospital.
South Seminole Hospital also became the first Orlando Health facility to implement a transparency initiative. In February, the hospital installed and activated digital quality boards in public areas.
The boards provide medical outcomes data directly to patients and families by displaying information about the number of patients with blood infections, blood clots, urinary infections, falls with injury and bed sores. In addition to the actual outcomes on display, the information also includes the hospital’s goals for each measure, and ways families and visitors can help ensure a safe health care environment. Other Orlando Health hospitals will soon begin rolling out the initiative.
“Our entire team worked very hard to achieve the “A” grades, so we are extremely proud,” said Sherrie Sitarik, president and CEO, Orlando Health. “But the ultimate winner today is the patient. And for that, we are very pleased.”
To see Orlando Health’s Leapfrog scores as they compare nationally and locally, visit the Hospital Safety Score website at www.hospitalsafetyscore.org.
