Carolinas Hospitals System recognized for patient safety record
By: Staff Reports
FLORENCE, S.C. – Carolinas Hospital System (Florence and Marion) has earned 13 South Carolina “Certified Zero Harm Awards” from the South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA).
The awards are in recognition of exceptional performance for patient safety and prevention of hospital-acquired infections.
Carolinas Hospital System-Florence is the only hospital to be recognized in seven different categories.
CHS-Florence received three zero bloodstream infection awards: for 12 months in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, 12 months in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and 18 months for the Medical Intensive Care Unit.
The other four awards are for no surgical site infections (SSI): 58 months for knee replacement, 36 months for hip replacement, 18 months for abdominal hysterectomy and 12 months for colon.
Carolinas Hospital System-Marion received six awards. In the newly created Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aurieus (MRSA) category, it received an award for 24 months zero harm and also 12 months Penicillin resistant. For SSI, the hospital received 30 months and 18 months for zero colon infections and 36 months abdominal hysterectomy. Finally Marion was recognized for 58 months of zero bloodstream infection.
Since 2013, SCHA has presented Zero Harm Awards to hospitals that are on the forefront of preventing medical errors. By some estimates, medical errors are the third-leading cause of death in the United States, with an economic impact that could reach $1 trillion annually.
Thanks to collaboration with The Duke Endowment and The Joint Commission Center for Transforming Health, SCHA and South Carolina hospitals have taken part in a statewide effort to create a culture of high reliability and reduce harm in our facilities. This effort implements robust, evidence-based practices that make a positive impact on patients and the safety and quality of care.
Certified Zero Harm Award hospitals must experience no preventable hospital-acquired infections of a specific nature over an extended period of time. All hospital data used for the awards is independently verified by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, recognizing the exceptional achievement the hospital or unit has made to the safety and quality of care within their facilities.
“It is great to be recognized by the SCHA in seven different categories,” Carolinas Hospital System chief executive officer Vance Reynolds said. “This recognition affirms our efforts to make patient safety our top priority. All of our staff are to be commended for their ongoing commitment to high quality health care.”
According to Thornton Kirby, president and CEO of SCHA, the awards are all part of the association’s efforts to guide and support the state’s hospitals in creating a culture of “Zero Harm” by recognizing the efforts of the amazing clinicians who work every day to provide high quality care in South Carolina’s hospitals and health systems.
“Zero Harm is about taking the principles of high reliability and applying them to how we deliver health care in South Carolina,” Kirby said. “While one medical error is one too many, highly reliable organizations celebrate milestones to establish a new standard – and that’s exactly what we’re trying to do with Zero Harm.”
