Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Improving Patient Safety -- Newborn Medication Administration

At Franciscan St. James Health, the nursery had the highest rate of "zero" orders (orders not on the patient's electronic medication administration record) among all inpatient units using the bar code medication administration process. A task force was formed and a newborn preregistration process was developed and implemented leading to a 40 percent decrease in "zero" orders.

Read the whole case study below (click "view item").

This case study is part of the Illinois Hospital Association's annual quality awards. Each year, IHA recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Illinois hospitals in continually improving and transforming health care in the state. These hospitals are improving health by striving to achieve the Triple Aim--improving the patient experience of care (including quality and satisfaction); improving the health of populations; and reducing the per capita cost of health care.

Award recipients achieve measurable and meaningful progress in providing care that is:

• Safe
• Timely
• Effective
• Efficient
• Equitable
• Patient-centered

(The Institute of Medicine's six aims for improvement.)