Why We Celebrate Healthcare Quality Week
When we go to the hospital, we typically don’t think about the processes and systems in place that ensure our quality of care. But behind the scenes, hundreds of people work to improve overall patient experience, and reinforce the quality and safety of the care we receive.
Quality in healthcare means providing the care the patient needs when the patient needs it, in a safe and effective manner. Quality healthcare also means engaging and involving the patient, so they can take ownership in preventive care and in the treatment of their diagnosed conditions.
Barton’s pneumonia reduction program is an example of a system that improves quality of care while working in tandem with the patient. Under this ongoing program, the hospital supplies hygiene education and toothbrushes to patients preoperatively and performs oral care four times per day during their hospital stay to help reduce bacteria in their mouths which can contribute to pneumonia. This program is administered across all inpatient departments, and has resulted in a hospital-wide reduction in pneumonia cases.
Every day, Barton Health team members contribute to our community’s care by leading continuous improvement initiatives. At any given time, the hospital is implementing, monitoring, and analyzing existing and new processes and outcomes, and integrating new evidence-based practices into its healthcare delivery to limit risk and keep patients safe.
Hospitals operate under strict state and federal guidelines and are highly regulated for standards in quality, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Joint Commission, and California Title 22. The data from these measurements show how well hospitals perform on uniform quality standards.
Not only do Barton team members work to improve the overall patient experience, but also the quality and safety of the care provided–and that's something worth celebrating. By working together to put systems in place that ensure quality of care and patient safety, we have become a leader in many of the categories that hospitals across the nation are measured by.
Over the past 19 months, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented new challenges for hospitals and communities across the nation. To meet these challenges, Barton modified operations to accommodate virtual visits, offered COVID-19 testing at drive-up sites and respiratory clinics, and hosted mass-vaccination clinics with community partners. Ongoing safety precautions are in place to protect patients and staff including proof of vaccination and testing protocols for visitors to Barton Memorial Hospital. Barton will continue to prioritize community safety and provide the highest quality of care achievable.
October 17-23, Barton is celebrating National Healthcare Quality Week and salutes each and every person in our health system who help us provide safe, high-quality care for our community.
Christine O’Farrell is Director of Quality Management and Infection Prevention at Barton Health. To see recent industry recognition for providing quality care, and how Barton measures up to others in the state, visit BartonHealth.org/Quality.
