We are very excited to announce that WSHA and the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (OAHHS) have established the Northwest Safety and Quality Partnership! The new partnership combines health care quality and safety initiatives from both associations to serve all 169 hospitals and health systems in Washington State and Oregon, making health care safer for patients and caregivers in both states.
The work will span 21 specific initiatives, including:
- Reducing opioid use and dependence
- Reducing avoidable hospital readmissions
- Improving patient and family engagement
- Fostering appropriate use of antibiotics
- Reducing infections, including sepsis and surgical site infections
- Increasing use of advance care planning, which works to ensure health care wishes are honored near the end of life, through Honoring Choices Pacific Northwest
Little will change for our members in how they work with WSHA on issues of quality and safety, but it will it expand our network of collaboration, bringing in more partners that can work together to spread best practices for patients. It will allow us to make a greater impact than would be possible otherwise as we work toward the common goal of improving the safety and quality of health care.
In the last two years, our patient safety initiatives have saved millions in health care spending and averted thousands of adverse events. We’re excited to continue this work through a new, nationally unique model, and help create even more success stories.
Sincerely,
Cassie Sauer
WSHA President & CEO
cassies@wsha.org
