WSHA’s newly formed Behavioral Health Workgroup met at the end of 2019 to discuss legislative policy issues and safety and quality initiatives for the upcoming year. The workgroup consists of leaders from Washington psychiatric hospitals and general hospitals/health systems with inpatient psychiatric services. One of the workgroup aims is to build on the pledge made by all Washington hospitals to not compete on safety and quality.
The group spent time during the meeting discussing cross-cutting safety and quality themes impacting their hospitals, clinical care settings, and patient populations. Participants agreed on the importance of using their collective leadership to improve safety and quality together across Washington.
In 2020, the workgroup plans to advance quality improvement initiatives that are challenging inpatient psychiatric care around the state. In partnership with WSHA, psychiatric and general hospitals will provide input on prioritizing quality improvement opportunities specific to inpatient psychiatric care settings and patient populations. Based on that assessment, WSHA will engage safety and quality leaders to design and implement initiatives that will improve targeted metrics and workflow processes.
WSHA is excited and eager to take this important step with our hospitals on the journey toward safe, high-quality care.
