Clearfield Hospital has joined 5 Million Lives, a national quality initiative that aims to dramatically reduce incidents of medical harm in the country’s hospitals. Shown reviewing information about the initiative are, from left, Salinda Cowder, quality management director; Kathy Simmons, perioperative manager; and Monica Smith, emergency department manager.

Clearfield Hospital has joined a national campaign that aims to dramatically reduce incidents of medical harm in the country’s hospitals.

The 5 Million Lives Campaign, spearheaded by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, asks hospitals to improve the care they provide in order to protect patients from five million incidents of medical harm over a 24-month period.

According to the IHI, 15 million people who seek medical treatment in U.S. hospitals each year are victims of medical harm. Medical harm is defined as unintended physical injury resulting from or contributed to by medical care that requires additional monitoring, treatment or hospitalization or results in death.

“The number of patients adversely affected by medical harm in our country is staggering. Clearfield Hospital is proud to join the 5 Million Lives initiative. Though we provide outstanding medical care here, we’re always investigating methods that can help us improve,” stated Robert B. Murray III, president and chief executive officer of Clearfield Hospital.

Five Million Lives builds upon the success of the 100,000 Lives Campaign, in which 3,100 participating hospitals reduced inpatient deaths by an estimated 122,000 in 18 months through overall improvement in care.

Clearfield Hospital took part in the 100,000 Lives Campaign and focused on implementing scientifically-proven methods to:

• Prevent central line infections;
• Deliver reliable, evidence-based care to prevent deaths from heart attack;
• Prevent surgical site infection; and
• Prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia.

According to Salinda Cowder, quality management director, Clearfield Hospital made notable progress in these initiatives. In particular, the hospital made great strides in its management of heart attack patients and continued to maintain a low surgical site infection rate.

As for management of heart attack patients, Monica Smith, emergency department manager, said the hospital improved its method of caring for patients presenting with heart attacks.

“We received a score of 100 percent compliance for giving aspirin to patients on arrival to the hospital. Studies show that aspirin helps improve blood flow to the heart,” Mrs. Smith said.

She added, “Anyone who is experiencing chest pain should seek medical attention immediately.”

Clearfield Hospital’s surgical site infection rate is 0.2 percent, which is well below the national average, according to Kathy Simmons, perioperative manager. The 100,000 Lives Campaign encouraged a series of steps to prevent surgical site infections, including timely administration of correct perioperative antibiotics.

“Our surgical services personnel are all nationally certified and maintain a high level of vigilance to prevent surgical site infections,” Ms. Simmons said.

Mrs. Cowder added, “Hospital-wide we practice excellent infection-prevention techniques, including one of the most important – proper hand washing.”

As part of the new campaign, Clearfield Hospital plans to improve procedures to:

• Prevent Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, a bacterial infection that can be difficult to treat because it’s resistant to many antibiotics.
• Reduce harm from high-alert medications starting with a focus on anticoagulants, sedatives, narcotics, and insulin; and
• Preventpressure ulcers.

Joining the 5 Million Lives Campaign is voluntary; the project will require additional time and effort by all participants.

“It will be time well spent. Our staff is willing to go above and beyond to improve the delivery of care. Participating in 5 Million Lives will help us further achieve our goals,” Mrs. Cowder said.