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10Patientsafetyisoneofournationsmostpressinghealthcarechallenges.Preventinganadversehealtheventmeansminimizingtheamountofaccidentalinjuryduetomedicalcareormedicalerror.AtHazletonGeneralHospitalwerecognizetheimportanceofpatientsafety.TroughaprocessofidentifcationtrackingmonitoringassessingandresolutionourAcceleratingBestCareteamsworknon-stoptoensurepatientsareprovidedwiththehighest-qualitycareinasafeenvironment.AferallyourlifeisinourhandsHerearejustafewofthewaysweareensuringyoursafety.IthinkthemadegreatstridtheygivetotheZerousageofprohibiteddrugabbreviationsanddoseexpressionstoavoidcostlyordeadlymedicationerrorsCompliancewiththeCentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionshandhygieneguidelinestoreducetheriskofhospital-acquiredinfectionsRequirementtousetwosourcesofpatientIDtoimprovetheaccuracyofpatientidentifcationandensurepatientsarematchedwiththeappropriateservicesReconciliationofpatientsmedicationsfromallpointsofservicetoensureconsistencyinthecareregimennnnnIn2006theJointCommissionontheAccreditationofHealthcareOrganizationsbegantoaddressthepatientsafetychallengebyidentifyingaseriesofpatientsafetygoalswithassociatedbenchmarksorreachabletargetsthatmustbereachedascriteriaforaccreditation.TesegoalshavesincebeenadoptedbyotheraccreditingagenciesandhospitalsworldwideincludingHazletonGeneralHospitalwhoarenowprovidingsafercarebecauseofthisaction.HazletonGeneralHospitalcontinuestomaintain100compliancewiththefollowingNationalPatientSafetyGoalsMethacillin-ResistantStaphylococcusAureusbetterknownasMRSAisthemostcommonlyacquiredhospitalinfectionintheUnitedStates.UnlikethefuwhichisairborneMRSAisprimarilypassedthroughtouch.Patientswhoarefrequentlyreadmittedorstrugglewithcompromisedimmunesystemshaveamorelikelychanceofcontractingtheinfection.ItsmoreimportantthaneverforhealthcaresystemstotakeastandagainstMRSAensuringpatientsafetythroughevidence-basedproceduresprocessesandprotocolstoreduceitsgrowingpresence.HazletonGeneralHospitalisparticipatingintheQualityInsightsofPennsylvaniaQIPMRSAProjectaprojectdesignedtodecreasepatientmorbiditymortalityandinfection-relatedhospitalcosts.TisisaprojectthatgetsallfrontlinestafinvolvedinthecareandpreventionofMRSAsaidEdnaReisRNInfectionControlPatientSafetyOfcer.AllIntensiveCareUnitpatientsarenasallyswabbeduponadmissionanddischargefromtheunit.SincetheonsetoftheQIPprojecttheIntensiveCareUnithassuccessfullyreducedthenumberofnewincidencesofMRSAcolonizationfromanaverageoffourpatientspermonthtozerosaidKimColvellRNMSNIntensiveCareUnitManager.Allothernursingunitsnasallyswabhigh-riskpatientswhichincludespatientswholiveinaskillednursingorpersonalcarehomeandthoseundergoingdialysistreatments.TisenablescaregiverstotrackthepresenceofMRSAwhichisthenreportedtohospitalstafdailysotheycantakeimmediateandappropriatemeasuresinthetreatmentandpreventionoftheinfection.HospitalemployeespracticeanumberofinitiativestoreducetheriskofMRSAexposureincludinggoodhygieneuseofseparateisolationcartsclosemonitoringofcaregiversandvisitorswhoenterandleavepatientroomsandcontactisolationifapatienttestspositivefortheinfection.HazletonGeneralHospitalhasbecomealeaderinMRSApreventionthroughitsparticipationwithQualityInsightsofPennsylvaniaandcontinuestosetthebenchmarkinpatientcare.PressureulcerpreventionisakeycomponentofapatientshospitalstayandoneinwhichHazletonGeneralHospitalexcels.Pressureulcersareaninjurytotheskinandthetissuebeneathitcausedbyunrelievedpressurefromlyinginbedorsittingwithoutchangingpositionsforaprolongedperiodoftime.HazletonGeneralHospitalscaregiversPatientSafetyFirstNationalPatientSafetyGoalsMethicillin-ResistantStaphylococcusAureusMRSAProjectPressureUlcerPreventionwww.ghha.orgwww.nebariatrics.comwww.hazletonhealthandwellness.org