CMH ranks first in medication safety statewide
Prince Frederick, MD (Mar. 12, 2009) - Calvert Memorial ranks first in medication safety statewide, according to a survey of 43 Maryland hospitals. The survey, conducted annually by the Maryland Patient Safety Center, helps facilities target areas for improvement.
Locally, CMH has made fundamental changes in the way medications are ordered, stored, dispensed and administered. It has also increased its pharmacy staff. To an increasing degree, the hospital is focusing on computerized systems that prevent errors, especially those created by poor handwriting and abbreviations.
Another safety measure is the new medication bar coding system. Staff is able to use the new technology to verify that they're giving the right patient the right dose of the right medication at the right time.
"These changes are having a positive impact," said CMH President and CEO James Xinis. "They are improving patient safety and that is our first priority."
The in-depth survey, which contains 241 questions, looks at how well each facility practices medication safety. It examines key elements such as patient information, staff education and drug communication, as well as labeling, monitoring and delivery devices.
The maximum possible score is 1,484. Calvert's total score was 1,389 or 94 percent. This surpassed the statewide median of 1,226 or 83 percent. "Kudos goes out to the entire clinical team for this incredible achievement," said Xinis.
The survey is part of the MEDSAFE Project, a collaborative effort between the Maryland Hospital Association and the Delmarva Foundation. The report's findings are released to individual hospitals with a detailed analysis that helps them set priorities for the coming year.
"This process allows us to learn from each other," said CMH Pharmacy Director Vince Jackson, "by finding out what's working well at other hospitals." This strategy has certainly been effective at CMH, which has posted steady gains for past four years - from seventh in 2004 to second in 2006 and first in the most recent survey in 2008.
"It's a group effort," said Jackson. "We have all the key players on our (medication safety) team. We focus on ways to improve medication safety and it's worked."
The Medication and Safety Team at Calvert Memorial meets monthly to monitor performance and target areas for improvement. This diverse group includes doctors, nurses and leadership from every hospital department that impacts patient safety.
"Our anti-coagulation clinic has been very effective in preventing adverse drug reactions," said Jackson, "by aggressively monitoring the use of blood thinners." The clinic, created in 2006, logged 2,089 patient visits up 18 percent from the prior year.
Additionally, CMH revised 60 order sets or care plans to include the latest evidence-based research. "The team worked with practitioners and Zynx Health," he said, "to update guidelines for pneumonia, chest pain, cesarean section, joint replacement and pediatric asthma, to mention a few."
The CMH pharmacy was enlarged in 2007 to make room for new technology and more staff. At left, Justine Womble, a pharmacy technician, double-checks the log in the unit dose area with Pharmacy Director Vince Jackson.
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