ChristianaCare Recognized by ECRI for Patient Safety Efforts
ECRI has recognized ChristianaCare for ongoing efforts to improve patient safety through the development of notification systems and injury prevention programs. ECRI is an independent, nonprofit organization improving the safety, quality and cost effectiveness of care.
Alerts Impact Award
ChristianaCare was named a finalist for the 2023 Alerts Impact Award program, which acknowledges members of its Alerts Workflow recall management system for excellence in implementing programs that result in greater levels of compliance and engagement to support safer patient care.
The finalists recognized at ChristianaCare created a new process to better track and respond to medical device recalls and pharmaceutical safety alerts.
“In judging submissions, our team took into account the safety and efficiency outcomes along with the core components that the organizations used to build a successful recall management program,” says Deb Dominianni, director, healthcare product alerts, ECRI.
“These included strong leadership and policy, interdepartmental collaboration and coverage, program compliance, and program oversight and reporting processes. It is an honor to partner with these organizations and celebrate their successes.”
Improving recall compliance
The process of alerting providers, caregivers and patients about a safety alert or recall has historically been an informal process. To help bridge gaps in notification and response time related to recalls, caregivers from Supply Chain created a formalized process with a focus on consistent communication and streamlined responses to recall notices. In the streamlined process, one caregiver now managers all recalls that come into the organization, whether through mail, email, phone call or ECRI alerts.
“Using ECRI’s alert system we were able create a process that identified caregivers who could directly address the alert or recall in a timely manner,” said Beth Rathmanner, MSN, RN-BC, clinical value analysis manager. An Alert Response Team also was created to address action needed when the alerts or recalls involve patient or physician notification.
The addition of this process has resulted in a 98% compliance rate for ChristianaCare, with eight resolved critical alerts and an average of one day to resolution.
Nearly 90% improvement in pressure injuries
In another national recognition for work to reduce patient harm, ECRI has recognized ChristianaCare for ongoing efforts to improve patient safety through the development of notification systems and pressure injury prevention programs. As a result of success in reducing harm-related, hospital-acquired pressure injuries by 88%, several caregivers were invited to be featured presenters at the ECRI Pressure Injury Prevention Collaborative in June.
“We were honored to be invited to share our learnings and successful strategies to prevent pressure injuries with organizations from around the country,” said Susan Mascioli, MS, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, CPHQ, LSSBB, CPPS, vice president, Nursing Quality and Safety. “Applying evidence-based practice to the prevention of pressure injuries improves patient safety and patient outcomes — the goals we all aspire to achieve.”
The virtual collaborative event drew 28 organizations from around the country. In their presentation “Creating a Culture for Pressure Injury Prevention” caregivers discussed ChristianaCare’s strategies for the prevention of pressure injuries, which focus on ongoing performance improvement, implementation of evidence-based practices, successful workflow integration, interprofessional collaboration and accountability.
Participants included Mascioli; Catherine Shull Fernald, DNP, RN, RNC-OB, NEA-BC, FACHE, chief nursing officer, Newark and Middletown campuses; Daniel Grawl, MBA, PA-C, FAAPA, FDAPA, EMT-P, lead Advanced Practice Clinician, Department of Surgery; and Lindsay McGrath MSN, RN, CWOCN, pressure injury preventionist.
