Quality & Safety

Washington hospitals have a commitment to pursue excellence in providing safe, quality health care for the people of Washington State. WSHA believes that, through collective action, we can help our hospitals meet that commitment. The Patient Safety Program provides a number of resource for hospitals across Washington including:

• Safe Table Learning Collaboratives (for more information, contact Carol Wagner)
• CEO & Trustee Patient Safety Summit 
• Hospital quality rankings
• Lists of Washington quality reporting requirements (also available in Excel format) and national quality reporting initiatives
• Access to national initiatives
• News alerts and regular newsletters
• Track progress with the Quality Benchmarking System (for more information on QBS, contact Ken Rudberg) 
• Online Bookstore for Patient Safety Material

Patient Safety News

• Washington Partnership for Patients: Achieving Best Care

  An informational web conference was held on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, to discuss a new intiative to reduce patient harm.  This initiative, based on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Partnership for Patients, is designed to reduce harm in hospitals and demonstrate that it can be achieved rapidly, nation-wide. To help support this effort, WSHA is propsing to become a Hospital Engagement Contractor for Washington State. This web conference informs your hospital about this work and opportunties available through WSHA and other sources.  For more information, click here.  To listen to and view this web conference, please click here.  To download the slides from this web conference, please click here.
  

• Health Affairs Article on Readmissions, July, 2011
  Washington hospitals are particpating in a groundbreaking initiative to lower rehospitalization rates. As part of the four-state initiative with the Institure for Healthcare Improvement, Washington hospitals and their association are helping lead the nation.
• Resources for Reducing Preventable ER Visits
  The Patient Safety Program has gathered information and resources needed to reduce preventable ER visits, including educational brochures for your community. 
• 2012 CEO and Trustee Patient Safety Summit
  Mark your calendar for May 2 or May 3, 2012
  Participants will attend one of the two dates. Sessions are repeated on both dates.

• Learn about the 2011 Best Hands on Care Award

• Washington State Hospital Association Earns National Eisenberg Award for Patient Safety Collaboration. Safe Table Learning Collaboratives Recognized for Advancing Best Practices. Read the announcement HERE.

Hand Hygiene Videos

• Watch the hand hygiene how-to from Swedish Health Services and Dr. John Vassal

• Watch the Hand Hygiene Dancing Videos (short version and long version are both on this link)

• Watch the WashYourHandsington video from the Washington State Department of Health

Making Care Safer - Washington Hospitals Eliminating Infections

WSHA staff is requesting that hospitals with central lines and ventilators complete this spreadsheet.  It will help demonstrate the success that has been made in improving quality, reducing hospital stays, and decreasing costs.  Please complete and send to Ken Rudberg at kenr@wsha.org.  In return, your hospital will receive an analysis and report.