New Project Enhances Patient Safety at North Dakota Hospitals
Jun 17,
2009
GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The North Dakota Critical Access Hospital (NDCAH) Quality Network announces a new effort to enhance patient safety across the state: the Statewide Information Management Project. Participating hospitals collect information related to patient safety at their facility and use it to make improvements; they also share best practices with each other. The web-based management system allows for efficient information gathering and analysis.
The project is supported by the Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and the management system is a product of Chicago-based consulting firm, Clarity Group, Inc. The Quality Network serves as a common place for Critical Access Hospitals to share education and resources to help advance health care quality and safety in the state.
“Last year the Quality Network tested the possibility of working together to collect information that could have a positive impact on patient safety in the rural health care setting,” said Jody Ward, NDCAH Quality Network Coordinator. “We’re excited to roll out this program in 13 of North Dakota’s rural hospitals, with plans to add more participants.”
Participants include:
First Care Health Center, Park River;
Heart of America Medical Center, Rugby;
Hillsboro Medical Center, Hillsboro;
McKenzie County Memorial Hospital, Watford City;
Nelson County Health System, McVille;
Northwood Deaconess Health Center, Northwood;
St. Aloisius Medical Center, Harvey;
Sakakawea Medical Center, Hazen;
Southwest Health Care, Bowman;
Tioga Medical Center, Tioga;
Towner County Medical Center, Cando;
Union Hospital, Mayville; and
Unity Medical Center, Grafton.
“We have recognized the benefit,” said Coleen Bomber of Northwood Deaconess Health Center. “It’s easy to access information and hospitals can use it to create positive change.”
“This has been an important project because it demonstrates the power of data in supporting safety and quality efforts of rural health care, which is the backbone of the U.S. health care system. We are pleased to be working with North Dakota as they continue with their innovative program,” said Anna Hajek, President and CEO of Clarity Group.
