(FLORENCE, S.C.) Carolinas Hospital System has earned four South Carolina “Certified Zero Harm Award” from the South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA). The award is in recognition of the facility’s exemplary performance for patient safety in preventing hospital-acquired infections.
Carolinas Hospital System sustained zero bloodstream infections for: 18 months in SICU; no surgical site infections for 24 months in abdominal hysterectomy and hip replacement; and 45 months in knee replacement surgery.
Since 2014, 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 one trillion dollars 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.
“Patient safety is our number one priority at Carolinas Hospital System. These results prove our continuous commitment to high quality care and dedication of our staff,” said Gary Malaer, Chief Executive Officer, Carolinas Hospital System. “We are proud to be a member of SCHA and recognized as a Zero Harm Award hospital since the award’s inception.”
Lorri Gibbons, Vice President for Quality and Safety at SCHA, said the awards are all part of the Association’s efforts to guide and support the state’s hospitals in creating and sustaining highly reliable healthcare. “Highly reliable” care is defined as dependable, high quality and safe care over a long period of time. This is key to eliminating medical errors in hospitals.
“Celebrating milestones, such as zero infections within a given time frame, is a crucial part of our hospitals’ collective journey to highly reliable healthcare,” said Gibbons.
“Zero patient harm is possible only if physicians, clinical and support staff members work together. We’re very proud of the Carolinas Hospital System team members for their strong and shared commitment to patient safety. They are an inspiration to all hospitals across the state striving to provide measurable safety care for every patient,” Gibbons added.