Healthcare providers share a responsibility for their patients’ safety.

That is critical part Johnson Memorial Health’s mission. Our employees work hard to protect patients and prevent them from any condition that might harm them.

A recent survey showed how those efforts are embedded in JMH’s culture. The survey, as required by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), indicated that employees believe Johnson Memorial has a strong commitment to safety due to:

• Teamwork:  Demonstrated by support, trust, respect among fellow employees.
  
  
• Organizational Learning - Continuous Improvement:  Employees pursue and evaluate ways to demonstrate safe care.
  
  
• Support from Supervisor/Manager:  Employees suggestions are valued.
  
  
• Good Communication: employees discuss ways to prevent errors from happening again.

JMH also participates in Patient Safety Awareness Week, a time dedicated to raising awareness about patient safety among health care professionals and the public. It is also an opportunity to celebrate JMH’s patient safety achievements, according to Tamara Moore, Director of Performance Excellence.

Like many healthcare providers, JMH focuses on patient safety within daily operations. Moore said everyone, from physicians to nurses to ancillary and support staff are committed to keeping patients safe.

The healthcare system’s Culture of Patient Safety is evidenced by recent outcomes of their survey, in which JMH reported:

• Zero of the following Healthcare Acquired Infections:  CLABSI (central line associated blood stream infections); VAP (ventilator acquired pneumonia); VTE (venous thromboembolisms); Surgical Site Infections; and MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus).
  
  
• Leading Indiana in utilizing the severe sepsis and septic shock treatment bundles.
  
  
• 86 percent of respondents indicating a grade of “Excellent” or “Very Good” for their work unit’s overall grade on patient safety.
  
  
• Scoring in the 90th percentile nationally for two aspects of Patient Safety Culture: Overall Perception of Patient Safety and Staffing.
  
  
• Scoring in the 75th percentile nationally for two additional aspects of Patient Safety Culture: Non-Punitive Response to Errors and Frequency of Events Reported.
• Being ranked 3rd in Indiana for Hospital Cleanliness on the HCAHPS survey which contributes to infection prevention and control.
  
  
• Lower readmission rates than the national average.
  
  
• Zero pressure ulcers.
  
  
• Zero early elective deliveries.

The Indiana Hospital Association promotes Patient Safety Center as a way to reducing patient harms across the state. The organization wants to empower all Hoosiers to be engaged in their own health care and educate the public on hot topics in patient safety.

 In 2016, Johnson Memorial Health was named a PRC Five Star Excellence in Healthcare Award winner for scoring in the Top 10 percent nationally for HCAHPS – Discharge Information based on the 2015 Inpatient Services database – by national healthcare research leader Professional Research Consultants, Inc. (PRC).

The Excellence in Healthcare Awards recognize organizations and individuals who achieve excellence throughout the year by improving patient experiences, healthcare employee engagement and/or physician alignment and engagement based on surveys of their patients.