Author: Cindy Smith

In June 2016, Halifax Health’s Center for Women and Children became the first healthcare facility in Central Florida to obtain The Joint Commission (TJC) Perinatal Center of Excellence Certification. According to TJC, the certification focuses on achieving integrated, coordinated, patient-centered care for clinically uncomplicated pregnancies and births. After hearing about this new certification, the Labor & Delivery Chief OB/GYN challenged the department to go for it.· Continue reading (Portal login required)

When Decatur Morgan West Campus, Decatur Morgan Hospital’s 64-bed psychiatric facility, saw an increase in hostile patients and an increase in their use of physical holds and seclusion, they knew something needed to be done. The implementation of their Agitation Protocol has proven to improve care for their patients, safety of staff, and physician and nurse satisfaction.· Continue reading (Portal login required)

The care of the sepsis patient population is challenging and extremely important, due to the need for early and accurate identification, and timely treatments. In 2013, Orlando Health (OH) recognized an opportunity to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes for their sepsis population. As part of a corporate initiative, the administrators at each of the OH facilities were required to form and lead a hospital-level team, responsible for developing and implementing effective strategies and goals recommended by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the Surviving Sepsis Campaign.· Continue reading (Portal login required)

“The Joint Commission leaves it gray”, explained Deb Masters, PPE Coordinator, Halifax Health, of the Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE) standard.  Deb’s right.  The Joint Commission (TJC) has created a standard with general guidelines, but little direction on how to build a process for collecting, tracking, reviewing, and addressing specialty-specific data on all active practitioners in a healthcare system. · Continue reading (Portal login required)

It is with clinical excellence, focus and a culture of ownership that five units at Health Central Hospital have eliminated multiple hospital acquired conditions. Changing the clinical processes was multifaceted, but primarily focused on tools to standardize practice, an audit process, and a forum to promote learning together. Changing the culture relied heavily on communication, addressing the difference between ownership and accountability, and creating focus.· Continue reading (Portal login required)