Authors: Hendrich, Ann; Tersigni, Anthony R.; Jeffcoat, Sally; Barnett, Charles J.; Brideau, Leo P.; Pryor, David

Source: Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, Volume 33, Number 12, December 2007 , pp. 739-749(11)

Publisher: Joint Commission Resources

Abstract:

Background: In 2002, Ascension Health, a 65-hospital nonprofit health care system, articulated a call to action to provide Healthcare That Works, Healthcare That Is Safe, and Healthcare That Leaves No One Behind. The goal is to provide excellent clinical care with no preventable injuries or deaths by July 2008. Just months from this target date, substantial reductions in events related to eight priorities for action have been documented, and at the current rate more than 2,000 lives a year are being saved compared to the baseline mortality rate.

Building the Agenda for Change: Progress toward the goal of zero preventable injuries or deaths required transformational change. Key steps toward this change included establishing a sense of urgency, creating a guiding coalition (the clinical excellence team), and developing the Destination Statement II. Other key factors in our early success included methods of process and outcomes measurement, the formation of appropriate and diverse leadership groups comprised of primary stakeholders, methods of knowledge transfer, and the involvement and leadership of the Ascension Health Quality Committee and individual health ministry Boards.

The Journey Continues: An ongoing discussion of what "zero preventable deaths and injuries" really means has led to the identification of additional interventions to further reduce preventable injuries and deaths.

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2007-12-01

More about this publication?

• Published monthly, The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety is a peer-reviewed publication dedicated to providing health professionals with the information they need to promote the quality and safety of health care. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety invites original manuscripts on the development, adaptation, and/or implementation of innovative thinking, strategies, and practices in improving quality and safety in health care. Case studies, program or project reports, reports of new methodologies or new applications of methodologies, research studies on the effectiveness of improvement interventions, and commentaries on issues and practices are all considered.
  
  Also known as Joint Commission Journal on Quality Improvement and Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Safety
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