Orlando Health hospitals awarded third consecutive “A” for patient safety
Learn how the Orlando Health hospitals are recognized for their safety.
MEDIA CONTACT
Kena Lewis, APR[email protected]
Orlando, FL (October 23, 2013) – Four Orlando Health hospitals were honored with their third consecutive “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.
“These excellent grades are a direct result of the hard work of doctors, nurses, clinicians and the entire staff at Orlando Health,” said Jamal Hakim, M.D., interim president and CEO. “Each and every day, our teams of highly qualified specialists collaborate to focus on quality care – and it’s making a difference to everyone who needs medical attention at our facilities throughout Central Florida.”
Orlando Health has implemented many quality initiatives, all designed to improve care of patients. For example, since introducing an exclusive hospitalist arrangement at Dr. P. Phillips Hospital in the spring of 2010, at South Seminole Hospital in the fall of 2011, and at Orlando Regional Medical Center in the spring of 2012, hospitalists’ performance metrics have improved significantly. Hospital acquired conditions per 1,000 cases have decreased 24.5 percent, 30-day readmissions have decreased 17.1 percent and length of stay has decreased 0.5 percent.
“Another example is our efforts to reduce Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI),” said Dr. Hakim. “In just three short years, the CAUTI rate at Orlando Health has been reduced by nearly 60 percent.”
Other successful quality initiatives have resulted in significant declines in Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), down 34 percent and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP), down 18 percent between 2010 and 2012.
Projected through the end of 2013, the declines are expected to show a 52 percent reduction in CLABSI, a 46 percent reduction in VAP, as well as a 22 percent reduction in Surgical Site Infections.
“Our entire team worked very hard to achieve these results and the “A” grades, so we are extremely proud,” added Dr. Hakim. “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.
