Frequently Asked Questions

Each and every day, Orlando Health’s teams of highly qualified physicians, nurses, specialists and other clinicians collaborate to focus on quality care – and it’s making a difference throughout Central Florida. The organization has put in place a sustainable structure designed specifically to support safe, quality care throughout the patient’s continuum of care. Our innovations and improvements have been recognized with numerous quality awards and by the support of the many communities we serve.

Yes. Many resources are available to patients and families that discuss patient safety tips during hospitalization. In the event you or a loved one becomes a patient at Orlando Health, partnering with our clinical team regarding your care plan can potentially increase your safety and improve your overall experience. Below are a few resources you can view at your convenience addressing patient safety tips and the importance of communication with your clinical care team.

Additional patient and family education sheets are available at all Orlando Health facilities upon request. A few of the topics include:

1. “Let’s Be Partners in Your Care!” (This sheet addresses the importance of hand washing.)

2. “Understanding Isolation Precautions” (This is designed for patients restricted to their room.)

3. What are “Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs)”? (This is designed for patients that are told they have a MDRO.)

Remember, communication is key. Speak up if you don’t understand your hospital care plan or need additional resources on any health topic.

Orlando Health is focused on delivering healthcare in a safe environment. Many interventions are currently in place to help accomplish this goal. To begin, a Protective Services Team is always available to ensure the physical safety of our patients, visitors and team members. In addition, badge-accessed medical units are utilized in all areas that house inpatient children and newborn nurseries. Infants and their new parents are also banded with special bracelets to provide an added level of security.

To improve medical safety, our clinical teams are trained to identify and prevent adverse medical events by performing mock scenarios simulating patient falls and medication errors. Training is also provided to our team members regarding the prevention of pressure ulcers and infections. We ask you to partner with us in your safety and encourage you to hold all of our team members accountable for performing hand hygiene prior to caring for you or your loved one.

At Orlando Health, we strive to provide the highest level of quality and safe care for our patients. As a part of that commitment, we promote patient involvement in the daily planning of their care through the use of a white board located in each patient’s room, as well as hourly rounding to ensure that your loved one is being kept safe and having their needs met. We also have a Rapid Response Team (RRT) to immediately address concerns that a change has occurred that could compromise the health of your family member.

Nurses at Orlando Health have an esteemed history, spanning close to a century. Since 1918, our nurses have embarked on and continue a legacy of caring for patients, families and our community. At Orlando Health, nurses advocate for superb patient care, and are trusted and respected by our patients and interprofessional partners. We believe in using the best evidence to guide practice to achieve exemplary outcomes for our patients. Our goal is to provide exemplary patient- and family-centered care focused on our mission to improve the health and quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve, and to advance the profession of nursing through clinical excellence and caring practice. Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies is Orlando Health’s first Magnet^® accredited hospital, which is the highest recognition a healthcare organization can achieve for excellence in nursing care. Other Orlando Health hospitals are actively pursuing Magnet^® designation as well.

Several agencies and organizations publicly report various pieces of information regarding the quality of care provided by hospitals throughout the state and country. The information is often posted on their websites, where one can compare several hospitals to each other.

The most commonly known agency is the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). They provide quality information on U.S. hospitals for various care processes and outcomes on their “Hospital Compare” website. The view this site, click on the following link: https://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/search.html.

Another organization that publicly reports quality information is The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit organization advocating quality, safety and transparency in the U.S. health system. The Leapfrog Group publishes hospital grades, based on the results of their hospital survey that is voluntarily submitted by hospitals across the country. It features information about safety, quality and efficiency of these hospitals. This information can be found at: http://www.leapfroggroup.org/cp.

In Florida, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) also has quality information available to the public for hospitals across Florida. Their website provides quality as well as cost information for hospitals. To view this information and compare hospitals, click on the following link: http://www.floridahealthfinder.gov/LandingPages/HospitalASC.aspx.

Yes. Orlando Health values the opinions and suggestions of our patients, families and community members. All Orlando Health hospital facilities and most outpatient centers currently have an active Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC). PFAC is a group of committed patients, family members, caregivers, healthcare providers and community members who work together to promote safe and comprehensive patient- and family-centered care throughout the Orlando Health system. Guided by our vision, mission and values, the council ensures our patients and families have a safe, quality, compassionate and supportive healthcare experience.

The council encourages a greater understanding of the healthcare experience through the eyes of the patient and family while building a strong relationship between the hospital team, patients and families. It works with each hospital’s leadership to evaluate Orlando Health practices, programs and services while making recommendations to enhance the experience for our patients and their families.

In addition, our patients are surveyed a few weeks after discharge in hopes of identifying ways to enhance the care we deliver, and the overall patient experience. Orlando Health leaders review data and written comments generated by our Press Ganey surveys to best define areas for enhancement. Orlando Health strives to provide each patient we serve with the safest and highest quality medical care possible.