Memorial Safety and Quality Programs
What is Memorial Healthcare System’s patient care philosophy?
We refer to it as Patient First.
Memorial Healthcare System is dedicated to surpassing customer expectations by applying a Patient First philosophy to all aspects of its operations. Every decision is based on the best interest of patients and their families – our partners in healthcare. Through excellence in safety, quality and service, we strive to ensure our patients and their families receive the care, information, access, collaboration and support they need. Treating patients and families with compassion, dignity and respect brings humanity to healthcare. We are dedicated to improving the health, well-being and, most of all, quality of life for the people entrusted to our care. Touching lives, lifting spirits and healing the human body is our profession’s greatest privilege and our greatest reward.
What programs are in place to enhance quality and safety for patients?
Patient- and Family-Centered Care (PFCC)
The purpose of Patient- and Family-Centered Care (PFCC) is to achieve optimal results and enhance the safety of the patients and quality of healthcare by treating patients and their families as partners on the care team. Memorial Healthcare System offers unrestricted visiting hours to meet the needs of patients and their families. Information sharing helps families make decisions about current and continuing healthcare.
24-Hour Physician Coverage in the Intensive Care Units (ICU)
At Memorial Regional Hospital, specially trained critical care physicians (intensivists) work with attending and consulting physicians to oversee the care of patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Daily rounds focus on patient- and family-centered care using proven procedures and practices. Positive results of this program include:
- Reduced mortality
- Improved use of tests (radiology, laboratory, etc.)
- Reduced length of hospital stay
- Shorter patient processing time through the Emergency Department
- Decreased ventilator days
- Fewer ventilator-associated pneumonia cases
- Reduced catheter-associated bloodstream infections
Hospitalist (Physicians Specializing in Hospital Care) Program
Memorial Hospitalist Group, employed by Memorial Healthcare System, provides safe, high-quality, short-term care for inpatients without a primary care physician at Memorial Regional Hospital and Memorial Hospital Pembroke. Specializing in internal medicine, these physicians provide continuity of care through timely, ongoing communication with other physicians, healthcare personnel and patients and families.
Rapid Response Teams
Rapid Response Teams assist in the evaluation, troubleshooting and management of patients who exhibit critical changes in their conditions. Any staff member can initiate the call for the team, quickly bringing critical care experts to a patient’s bedside.
Safety Alerts
Through our Safety Alert Program, Memorial Healthcare System promotes the full communication of safety concerns. If a patient requires immediate assessment of care, treatment, needs or status, any employee, staff member, medical or allied health staff member may initiate a safety alert. This is a proactive way to help ensure our patients remain safe and receive high-quality care delivered in our Patient First environment.
LifeSaver Award Program
This Memorial Healthcare System LifeSaver Award program recognizes employees who go above-and-beyond their responsibilities in the interest of patient safety. These employees demonstrate exemplary skills in following policies and procedures, avoiding potential harm, focusing on patient safety, and appropriately reporting follow-up.
Crew Resource Management Training
Our safety program, Crew Resource Management Training, was developed by LifeWings Partners. It uses proven aviation procedures to improve hospital processes and save more lives. The program is designed to empower employees, identify red flags, and reduce barriers and breakdowns in communication to ensure the delivery of safe, quality healthcare. We are one of the first healthcare organizations in Florida to implement this program. www.saferpatients.com
- Procedure
- Correct surgical site
- Administration of antibiotics
- Known allergies
- Location and availability of special equipment
Pause for the Cause
Pause for the Cause is a time-out prior to starting surgical procedures. It is used to help ensure that the nurses, physicians and other personnel participating in the procedure have the correct patient. To provide safe quality care, and prevent medical errors and adverse outcomes, the medical team checks the following:
This is done to provide safe quality care, and prevent medical errors and adverse outcomes.
Is Memorial Healthcare System involved in other safety- and quality-related training?
Health Research and Education Trust (HRET) - Patient Safety Leadership Fellowships
Health Research and Education Trust (HRET), a not-for-profit research and educational affiliate of the American Hospital Association, studies healthcare issues, and provides education about healthcare policies and their effects on the healthcare industry. Memorial Healthcare System participates in HRET’s one-year Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship program, which provides intensive training experience for healthcare professionals.
How is Memorial Healthcare System using technology to enhance patient safety?
Special Computer Systems
Memorial Healthcare System is working to automate many processes used in the delivery of safe, high-quality patient care. These advanced systems include:
- Possible drug allergies
- Potential risks
- Duplicate treatments
- Documentation of patient allergies before medication can be ordered
- Right patient (identify the correct patient for the medication)
- Right drug (identify the correct medication for the patient)
- Right dose (identify the correct amount being given to the patient)
- Right route of administration (identify that the medication being given is in the correct form – swallowing, chewing, injection, etc.)
- Right frequency (identify the correct time the medication is being given to the patient)
- Clear, legible, real-time records
- Access to patients’ charts and information
- Reduced redundancy in documentation
- The ability for a number of doctors and staff to access, patient information at the same time
Automated Pharmacy System
The automated pharmacy system provides an easy way for doctors to enter their orders into the computer. The enhanced safety features include alerts for:
Barcode Medication Administration and Documentation
Using barcode technology, nurses and doctors electronically document medication being given to patients. Before delivering each medication, the medication’s bar code and patient’s identification bracelet are both scanned. Computerizing this process alerts healthcare providers to possible drug allergies and potential risks, and helps to ensure what is known in the healthcare industry as “The Five Rights of Medication Administration.” These include:
Medical Record Documentation
Computerized clinical documentation in many patient care areas allows healthcare staff to obtain patient information in one location. With computer documentation of vital signs, intake/output, nursing assessments, nursing notes, charting and progress notes, healthcare staff can quickly obtain the information they need to make critical decisions. Created and implemented with the patient in mind, computerized clinical documentation’s benefits include:
Computerized Physician Order Entry
Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) allows physicians to enter orders for treatment, tests and consultations directly into computer software that captures and transmits the information. This helps prevent medical errors that occur from verbal or handwritten orders that are inaccurate or hard to read. Successful use of CPOE leads to safer, more efficient, higher-quality care.