A+ for Canton-Potsdam Hospital

@TerryFairbanks, director of the National Center for Human Factors in Healthcare, sends this story from the Daily Courier-Observer with a note, "Great story of how one patient can transform a hospital." Indeed, also a great story about the transformational power of teamwork that extends throughout the front lines!  And the leadership that made this all possible.  Excerpts:

Canton-Potsdam Hospital, a not-for-profit facility with its main campus located in Potsdam, New York, was recognized with an “A” Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits. The A score was awarded in the latest update to the Hospital Safety Score, the A, B, C, D or F scores assigned to U.S. hospitals based on preventable medical errors, injuries accidents, and infections. The Hospital Safety Score [is] the first and only hospital safety rating to be peer-reviewed in the Journal of Patient Safety (April 2013),

“This is an honor that is shared across our organization,” said David B. Acker, FACHE, President and CEO of Canton-Potsdam Hospital. “It actually derives from the courage of a patient and her husband, who spoke to me back in 2009 about an infection acquired at our hospital that drastically curtailed their involvement in the community and enjoyment of life. The husband subsequently spoke to our entire staff through a series of meetings. The couple’s story was life-altering for them and for us and they share in this honor,” he said.

“Their experience set us on the path to a total redesign of our processes, extensive training in and reinforcement of best practices, investments in new equipment, commitment to gathering and using data to drive decisions, and a total, unwavering dedication to patient safety, always, in every situation,” said Mr. Acker, who credited everyone from physicians to housekeeping staff for working as a team to approach safety and quality proactively.