Partnership for Patients 2.0 – Sign Up Now
Hospitals around the nation are embracing the continuation of our journey toward safety. The WSHA Patient Safety Committee stated:
- It is imperative to continue with Partnership for Patients.
- We are not done!
- Safety is what we are about. It is not a fad.
The members of the WSHA Hospital Engagement Network (HEN) were highly successful. We plan to support that success once again. To sign up please complete the participation form and return it to Megan Boucher (MeganB@wsha.org) by March 10th. You can also view a participation letter that was sent to your hospital.
We will also be hosting two informational web conferences (repeated sessions). Hospital leaders will receive a separate email with connection information or contact Megan Boucher for details (MeganB@wsha.org).
- Thursday, March 12, 10:30 a.m
- Friday, March 20, 11:00 a.m.
(Carol Wagner, CarolW@wsha.org)
Immunizations Core for Community Safety
This year there have been a series of infections spreading, many of which are preventable, such as the measles. In previous years, pertussis–again preventable with immunization–spread rapidly. Have you taken steps to prevent infections?
- Are your staff immunized, including staff who work on contract or part-time?
- Are you following the recommendations from the Department of Health (DOH)?
Please also review a recent WSHA Weekly Report featuring a letter titled “Why Nurses Need Flu Vaccines.” (Carol Wagner, CarolW@wsha.org)
Updated Isolation Guidelines – Measles
If measles is suspected in a clinic, ER or hospital setting, isolate immediately. Infected people should be isolated for four days after they develop a rash. Healthcare providers should follow respiratory etiquette and airborne precautions in healthcare settings. Because of the possibility, albeit low, of MMR vaccine failure, when caring for patients with measles, all healthcare staff entering the room regardless of presumptive immunity status, should use respiratory protection consistent with airborne infection control precautions (use of an N95 respirator or a respirator with similar effectiveness in preventing airborne transmission). The preferred placement for patients who require airborne precautions is in a single-patient airborne infection isolation room (AIIR).
People without evidence of immunity who have been exempted from measles vaccination for medical, religious, or other reasons and who do not receive appropriate PEP within the appropriate timeframe should be excluded from affected institutions in the outbreak area until 21 days after the onset of rash in the last case of measles. For more information on measles identification, prevention and treatment go to http://www.cdc.gov/measles/hcp/index.html. Click here to download information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), presented at a recent Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity. (Amber Theel, AmberT@wsha.org)
Ebola Early Assessment Still Needed
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) recommends all entry points to health care continue to screen for Ebola. Although there have been no confirmed cases in Washington, there remain cases in West Africa and cases that are being monitored in Washington.
The Washington State Hospital Association and Washington State Nurses Association continue to meet with the DOH on this topic. If you would like current information on Washington and Ebola go to http://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/EmergencyPreparednessandResponse/Factsheets/Ebola (Carol Wagner, CarolW@wsha.org)
New Support and Resources for Critical Access Quality Leads
WSHA is recruiting a Director of Quality and Performance Improvement to specifically support critical access hospitals (CAH) in their key quality and patient safety initiatives, including hosting monthly calls that include best practices on topics such as patient safety, quality and population health. If you or someone you know would be interested in the Director of Quality and Performance Improvement role please contact Amber Theel at AmberT@wsha.org or 206-577-1820. There may be opportunities to work remotely. The complete job posting can be viewed here.
In addition, WSHA has also contracted Susan Rivera-Lee whose extensive background in core measures and performance improvement is available to you now for MBQIP assistance. She can be reached at svrlee@hotmail.com or 360-791-3505. (Amber Theel, AmberT@wsha.org)
New Program for CAH Infection Preventionists
Qualis Health, in partnership with the Washington Department of Health, WSHA, and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), is offering a new resource for critical access hospital (CAH) Infection Preventionists: EQuIP, or Education, Quality, and Infection Prevention Program. This training, which is a combination of modules, webcasts and in-person conferences, is designed for critical access hospitals at no charge. The full details are available at http://medicare.qualishealth.org/projects/healthcare-associated-infection/equip.
Also, an OPTIONAL in-person training will be offered as part of the program March 16, 2015 in Spokane.
The courses offered will include:
- Infection Prevention as a Program: Principles, Practices, and Performance
- Infection Control Risk Assessment and Prioritized Planning
- Infection Control Surveillance in the Critical Access Hospital
- Regulatory and Accreditation Requirements of an Infection Control Program
- Mandatory HAI Reporting in Critical Access Hospitals
- Conducting an Outbreak Investigation in the Critical Access Hospital
Flex funds will be available to help with travel.
To enroll contact Jamie Moran, QI Consultant, JamieM@QualisHealth.org, (206) 288-2512 or Kim Kelley, Critical Access Hospital Program Manager (WA Department of Health), 360-236-2807, kim.kelley@doh.wa.gov.
13th Northwest Patient Safety Conference
Sponsored by the Washington Patient Safety Coalition, the 13th Northwest Patient Safety Conference will be held on May 13, 2015. The conference will include plenary speakers Dr. Ron Wyatt of The Joint Commission and patient advocate Tiffany Christensen. Registration is open at: http://www.wapatientsafety.org/news-events/patient-safety-conference. (Amber Theel, AmberT@wsha.org)
