Baptist Health has
taken a leadership role in creating a culture of quality in which our patients' safety comes first - above all else. We've made quality and patient safety part of
our mission, and are committed to funding the people and technology needed to improve patient safety. Our various Boards, medical staff, and employees share in this commitment.
New Web Site Provides Healthcare Resources
The Florida Hospital Association has launched a new consumer Web site to assist the public in researching and managing their healthcare information. The Web site, www.floridainformedpatient.com, provides a variety of healthcare information resources, including the ability to search for a hospital based on the types of services it provides and its location. The site also provides checklists for patients to use when selecting a hospital, a physician, or a health plan and gives quick links to a variety of healthcare sites providing quality and pricing information.
In addition, here are brief examples of other patient safety and quality initiatives:
Baptist Health South Florida hospitals are once again top performers in a groundbreaking Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Premier Inc. pay-for-performance project that rewards hospitals for delivering higher quality care in five clinical areas. Read More. Also, see Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration section.
Baptist Health devotes a higher percentage of its operating budget (salaries and benefits) to people and has higher staffing ratios than many other hospitals in the nation. Studies show that higher caregiver staffing ratios result in better clinical outcomes and fewer errors, as well as higher levels of patient, physician and nursing satisfaction.
Baptist Health is one of only 17 hospital systems in the nation to become a founding partner in the Stand Up for Patient Safety program of the National Patient Safety Foundation.
Baptist Health hospitals are rated by the Leapfrog Group, more than 170 companies and organizations that provide hospital ratings and encourage public reporting of healthcare quality. Click here for the Leapfrog Group's website and its quality ratings.
We are part of a 2,500 hospital endeavor across the United States that saved 122,300 lives by June 16, 2006. The landmark, 18-month initiative was launched by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
500 Patient Safety Champions - employees throughout Baptist Health - have been specially trained to serve as ambassadors for patient safety within their work units.