VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital implements innovative measures to enhance patient safety
Team members improve communication and leverage cutting edge technology to elevate patient care.
June 30, 2023
Tappahannock Hospital team members play an important role in patient safety. (Getty Images)
In an unwavering commitment to patient well-being, VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital continuously looks for ways to address and improve patient safety.
By implementing several initiatives and leveraging cutting edge technology, the hospital has achieved notable improvements in recognizing and treating life-threatening conditions, reducing infections and empowering patients through increased accessibility measures, among others.
“These efforts around patient safety demonstrate VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital’s dedication to enhancing patient outcomes and its unwavering pursuit of innovative approaches to provide safe and efficient care,” said Liz Martin, MHA, President of VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital.
Tappahannock Hospital team members play an important role in patient safety, and their dedication to these initiatives underscores the hospital’s dedication to providing exceptional care and ensuring the best outcomes for patients.
“Every member of the team is accountable and empowered to take action,” said Patricia Gallagher, Chair of the Quality and Safety Committee at Tappahannock Hospital. “I’m so impressed by the team’s diligence when it comes to making improvements and always looking for ways to address patient safety.”
Developing a culture of safety
When it comes to making safety part of the culture of VCU Health, team members focus on prioritizing patients’ well-being. Teams report and learn from near-miss events and every member of the care team is encouraged to speak up if they have concerns. Tappahannock Hospital also has several programs, technologies and systems in place to catch and address concerns early.
One example is the hospital’s “Code Sepsis” response program, which is revolutionizing sepsis care. Any clinical team member can activate “Code Sepsis” when signs and symptoms of sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition when the body responds to an infection, are recognized. In addition, the EPIC electronic health record system can help identify clinical warning signs. “Code Sepsis” helps doctors and nurses act fast to diagnose and treat the condition. The program has already resulted in significant improvements in sepsis recognition and treatment.
Reducing urinary catheter utilization is another crucial aspect of Tappahannock Hospital’s infection control efforts. Urinary catheters increase the risk of infections, so the nursing staff is focused on minimizing their use. They ensure that catheters are inserted only when necessary and promptly removed, significantly reducing the incidence of urinary infections during hospitalization.
Additional initiatives aimed at controlling infection include frequent handwashing and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Increasing communication is also key to ensuring patients receive the right care, so Tappahannock Hospital patients will notice they are asked their name and date of birth several times during the same hospital encounter.
Technology enhancing patient safety
Tappahannock Hospital prioritizes medication safety by leveraging technology. Barcode medication administration is one example. By scanning the patient’s armband and medication, the electronic health record cross-checks for accurate patient information, correct medication, appropriate dosage, timing, and potential allergies. The hospital has plans to integrate IV pumps with automatic IV rate dosing to enhance medication safety further.
“Patients can be active participants in medication safety by bringing their medications or an up-to-date medication list to doctor appointments or when seen in the emergency department,” said Robert Culley, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Tappahannock Hospital. “This helps healthcare providers review records, identify potential drug interactions, and ensure the correctness of prescribed medications.”
At the hospital, machines that measure vital signs are integrated with EPIC so there is real-time access to patient data for clinical decision-making — enhancing patient care and enabling prompt interventions when needed.
Improving communication and handoffs
Initiatives to improve clinician and patient communication include bedside handoffs and redesigning the patient care whiteboards used in every patient room to communicate basic information like date, provider name(s) and care plans/goals. The redesigned patient care boards provide a larger, more readable space with content revisions focused on enhancing patient communication and patient safety. Bedside handoffs allow the team to include the patient when transitioning care from one team member to another.
“Code Saturn” in the Emergency Department and “Code Assist” in the inpatient units help address unusual patient volume surges or times when patient care needs exceed the capacity of the staff present on the unit. These codes quickly deploy additional assistance from all hospital departments and increase leadership presence to help ensure efficient and timely care delivery.
Tara Talbott, DNP-FNP, MBA, Chief Nursing Officer at Tappahannock Hospital, says adequate staffing is critical to patient safety, and despite the healthcare workforce challenges posed by the pandemic, Tappahannock Hospital remains committed to maintaining appropriate staffing ratios. Not only does that mean paying close attention to nurse:patient ratios on each shift, but also constantly evaluating the support staff that are assisting with patient care.
Patient safety is a team effort, Talbott says, and team members work diligently to improve the ability to have the right resources needed at the right time.
“Team members also need sufficient time off to recharge so that when they are at work, they can prioritize patient care and safety protocols,” she said. “And while we occasionally require the use of external temporary staff, I’m proud to say that all current team members are employees of VCU Health, which helps us provide consistent and reliable care.”
Addressing at-risk patient needs
When patients come to the Emergency Department with a cardiac issue, timely follow up can be critical. To that end, Tappahannock Hospital has introduced a streamlined process where ER doctors electronically send referrals directly to the cardiology office, specifying the required timeframe for follow up. The cardiology office contacts the patient on the next business day to schedule the appointment, making sure that patients receive prompt and convenient follow-up cardiac care.
Empowering patients
Patients are the most essential part of the patient safety program. VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital empowers patients to play an active role in their care.
The MyChart patient portal allows patients to access their healthcare information conveniently, including their historical visits, lab results, care trends, visit summaries and recommendations from their providers. Patients can also send direct messages to any VCU Health provider, facilitating timely communication without the need for phone calls. Patients can request appointments, medication refills and ask non-emergent medical questions, with all communication conveniently saved for future reference.
