The Stand Up Awards will be conferred at the NPSF Patient Safety Congress, May 17-19, in Orlando.
The outstanding work of these organizations is evidence that our Stand Up members are leading the way in innovations to improve patient safety, patient engagement, and health outcomes.
Boston, MA (PRWEB) May 10, 2017
The National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF), newly merged with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, has announced the recipients of the 2017 Stand Up for Patient Safety Management Awards.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue is being recognized for a program to improve the management of insulin-dependent diabetes in patients at its Adult Primary Care Center. Christiana Care Health System is being honored for a care coordination and management program called Carelink CareNow that has yielded impressive results in reducing readmissions.
The awards are presented each year in recognition of the successful implementation of outstanding patient safety initiatives by organizational members of the Stand Up for Patient Safety program. Created in 2002 by NPSF, the Stand Up program is now part of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s safety work, following the May 1 merger of the two organizations.
The 2017 awards will be conferred during the 19th Annual NPSF Patient Safety Congress, May 17-19, in Orlando, FL.
Many patients with insulin-dependent diabetes in the Bellevue Adult Primary Care Center struggled to take time away from work and other responsibilities to visit the clinic to have their insulin dose adjusted. The innovative solution developed by the Bellevue Primary Care Diabetes Team features an evidence-based text messaging program called Mobile Insulin Titration Intervention (MITI, pronounced “mighty”). Patients in the program receive a text message each morning requesting their morning fasting blood sugar level. Patients text back their results and the values are monitored daily by nurses, who call patients once weekly to advise them on an insulin dose titration using a validated dosing algorithm.
“This project was designed to both align with and inform the American Diabetes Association’s ongoing policies to promote individualized, patient-centered approaches to diabetes management that reduce health disparities,” said Andrew B. Wallach, MD, FACP, Clinical Director, Ambulatory Care, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “We hope to expand the scope of this approach to disease management to other chronic diseases, such as hypertension and asthma.”
“MITI overcomes logistical barriers for patients needing to find their correct basal insulin dose by bringing the care to them on their cell phones. Having properly controlled blood sugar means patients have fewer complications from diabetes, allowing them to lead a healthier life,” said Natalie Levy, MD, Director of NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue’s Primary Care Diabetes Program and the MITI Program. “Our whole team is honored that the NPSF saw the value of our work and granted us this award.”
Christiana Care’s care coordination and management program also uses innovation and technology, along with a dedicated care coordination team, to improve safety and outcomes. This program integrates and analyzes clinical and claims data to help in clinical decision making, coordinate office visits when needed, enhance communication during transitions, and provide educational support to providers caring for patients with chronic illness.
“Our success with our care coordination and management program stems from a culture at Christiana Care in which the patient and their family is placed at the center of all we do,” said Sharon Anderson, RN, BSN, MS, FACHE, Christiana Care’s Chief Population Health Officer and Senior Vice President of Quality and Patient Safety. “Through this program, we address the gaps between sicknesses and health crises and we ensure that patients’ social and behavioral health needs – with their great impact on health – are being met, in addition to their medical need.”
The Stand Up for Patient Safety Management Award recognizes the successful implementation of an outstanding patient safety initiative led, or created, by mid-level management. Eligible initiatives are those that have demonstrated evidence of patient safety improvement, with involvement of staff at all levels of the organization.
“The outstanding work of these organizations is evidence that our Stand Up members are leading the way in innovations to improve patient safety, patient engagement, and health outcomes,” said Tejal K. Gandhi, MD, MPH, CPPS, former President and CEO, NPSF, and now Chief Clinical and Safety Officer at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, following the recent merger of the two organizations. “We are very pleased to recognize their work at our annual meeting and help inspire others.”
About Us
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) began working together as one organization in May 2017. The newly formed entity is committed to using its combined knowledge and resources to focus and energize the patient safety agenda in order to build systems of safety across the continuum of care. To learn more about our trainings, resources, and practical applications, visit ihi.org/PatientSafety.
About the NPSF Stand Up for Patient Safety Program
The Stand Up for Patient Safety program caters to hospitals, health systems, physician offices, ambulatory facilities, and other entities focused on improving the safety of health care. Membership provides the support and education necessary to embed patient safety principles into organizational practice and align with national patient safety goals and critical regulatory requirements. Through participation, Stand Up members around the world gain access to field-tested tools and resources, expertly designed educational programs, and an invaluable support network. Visit the website to learn more.