Buffalo Hospital is among six Allina hospitals that received Patient Safety Excellence Awards from the Minnesota Hospital Association, the MHA announced. The awards honor hospitals that have implemented at least 90 percent of the best practices identified in safety campaigns to prevent harmful falls, pressure ulcers or bed sores, retention of surgical objects and wrong-site surgeries. Buffalo Hospital will be honored for their implementation of the Safe Count campaign, which aims to reduce retained objects in labor and delivery. Buffalo, along with Allina’s Mercy Hospital are the only two hospitals inMinnesota to receive this award. “Patient safety is a top priority at Allina, and I’m excited to see that our efforts are gaining state-wide recognition,” said Penny Wheeler, MD, Allina chief clinical officer. “Through collaboration across Allina, as well as adopting best practices like those we helped develop with MHA, we are seeing measurable differences in the safety of the care we provide.” Owatonna Hospital, New Ulm Medical Center and United Hospital were recognized in the Safe from Falls category to reduce patient falls in the hospital. And, Abbott Northwestern Hospital was recognized in the Safe Skin category for its work to prevent pressure ulcers. Dr. Wheeler credits programs such as hourly rounding, additional counting of surgical instruments and sponges, taking a “time out” before each surgery and early identification of patients at risk for pressure ulcers for safety and quality improvements at Allina hospitals.
