In honor of 2017 Healthcare Quality Week in late October, Cooper University Health Care sponsored the third annual Quality and Patient Safety Awards to recognize the numerous innovative efforts geared toward improving care and creating a safe environment for patients and staff. The winners were selected by a committee of Cooper employees who evaluated the programs on a number of metrics, including high-quality clinical outcomes achieved, improved patient safety, sustainability, and measurable results.
“Cooper University Health Care’s operational priority is to provide the highest quality of care to our patients in the safest environment,” said Adrienne Elberfeld, MS, PMP, CPHQ, senior vice president of quality and operational excellence at Cooper. “Within our organization, there are many initiatives in progress that focus on these imperatives. We established these awards to highlight our ongoing efforts and recognize those that have done an outstanding job.”
The winners were recognized at a recent awards luncheon.
2017 Award Winners
Quality and Patient Safety Award — MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper Triage Team for implementing a Cancer Infusion Triage Process. This multidisciplinary team initiative was designed, using Lean Six Sigma methodology, to provide cancer symptom management and relief. Evidence-based pathways were implemented and an infrastructure created that allows physicians and patients alike to refer to an infusion triage to receive support. The team was able to achieve significant reductions in Emergency Department visits. Award accepted by Stacie Oertle, MSN, RN, CRNP, and team.
Quality and Patient Safety Operational Award — The Gastric Sleeve Clinical Pathway Team for developing and implementing a gastric sleeve surgical clinical pathway, based on evidence-based practices shown to reduce adverse events in patients undergoing bariatric and small bowel surgery. Using Lean Six sigma methodology, the team was able to achieve reductions in surgical complications, mortalities, and readmissions, as well as reductions in time spent in the hospital and the cost of care. Award accepted by Dawn Stepnowski, MSN, RN, CRNP. and team.
Honorable Mention Quality & Patient Safety Award — The Kelemen 10th Floor Team received this award for their work in fall reduction.
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Wendy A. Marano
Public Relations Manager
856.382.6463
marano-wendy@cooperhealth.edu