Outstanding work in reducing early elective infant deliveries
at Grinnell Regional Medical Center has garnered the medical center the Iowa
Healthcare Collaborative’s (IHC) patient safety award for reducing hospital
acquired conditions. The 2015 IHC Patient Safety Awards were featured at the
statewide Patient Safety Conference on March 12 at The Meadows Events and
Conference Center in Altoona.
A team of physicians
and obstetrical nurses worked to implement the “39 Week” rule for infant
deliveries that significantly decreased the risk of adverse effects for infants
and mothers. GRMC’s policy is that there will be no elective induction of labor
or C-sections prior to 39 weeks in pregnancy unless the health of the mother or
child is at risk.
“The concept of
not allowing elective deliveries before 39 weeks is an inexpensive, easy
intervention to make our patients healthier. Led by our OB nurse manager,
Sheryl Baarda, the physicians and staff implemented processes to prevent these
early elective deliveries,” says Laura Ferguson,
MD, Family Medicine, and chair of the GRMC Medical Staff Obstetrics Committee.
“Our entire team is delighted to see the improved outcomes for our moms
and babies – fewer inductions, fewer cesarean sections, and fewer transfers of
newborns.”
The IHC Patient Safety Awards are presented to
healthcare providers and/or healthcare organizations who have demonstrated
outstanding leadership and achievement in patient safety. The Patient Safety
Award aims to raise the standard of healthcare in Iowa by promoting a culture
of continuous improvement in quality, safety, and value.
This award honors patient safety champions that
support the following initiatives: improve patient safety; reduce the risk of
harm; and keep patients at the center of care.
“We’re very
proud of the work being done in Iowa,” says Tom Evans, MD, president and CEO of
IHC. “Patient safety is about eliminating unintended consequences of
medical care. This award allows us to highlight some of the best efforts
in our state as we work toward our vision of delivering the most effective and
efficient health care in the nation.”
Stewart Memorial Hospital in Lake City, Iowa, garnered
the Patient Safety Grand Prize award. It was recognized for development of a transition coach
project to share patient information across the care continuum and created a
team that includes the quality advisor, director of nursing, health coaches,
and clinic nursing supervisor, emergency room nurses, and home care
nurses.
Four categorical award recipients were also announced:
Fort Madison
Community Hospital (Patient and Family
Engagement Award)
Grinnell
Regional Medical Center (Hospital Acquired Conditions Award)
University of
Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (Health Care – Associated
Infections Award)
Mary Greeley
Medical Center, Ames (Improving Culture of Safety/Safety Across the Board)
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The Iowa Healthcare
Collaborative (IHC) is a provider-led and patient-focused nonprofit
organization dedicated to promoting a culture of continuous improvement in
healthcare. IHC's mission is exceptional healthcare in Iowa. IHC plays a unique role in putting healthcare
providers (doctors, nurses and hospital executives) in a leadership position to
drive clinical improvements and accelerate change. By encouraging communication, collaboration
and transparency, IHC ultimately raises the quality, patient safety and value
of healthcare in Iowa.
Photo Cutline: GRMC
staff were honored during the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative’s Patient Safety
Awards ceremony in Des Moines on March 12. From left, Tom Evans, president
and CEO of the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative presented the award to Doris
Rindels, GRMC vice president, and Sheryl
Baarda, nurse manager at the Kintzinger Women’s Health Center.
