Quality and Patient Safety Reign at Windham Hospital Legislative Breakfast
WILLIMANTIC, CT, March 23, 2010– Members of the Northeast delegation were out in force this morning to attend Windham Hospital’s annual legislative breakfast along with physicians, staff and invited guests, including several leaders from Hartford Healthcare. Senators Don Williams and Tony Guglielmo and Representatives Bryan Hurlburt , Susan Johnson, Joan Lewis, Kevin Ryan, and Pam Sawyer listened to a panel of distinguished guests talk about issues of patient safety and quality in our healthcare system. President and CEO, Dick Brvenik kicked-off the event by talking about the momentous healthcare reform bill that will be signed into law later today, and the fact that there are heightened expectations for service excellence, quality and affordability. “Hospitals and healthcare providers are attempting to meet these needs and expectations in an era of constrained revenues.” Chief of the Medical Staff, Dr. Eugene Winchester echoed these concerns and brought to light the impact healthcare has on our economy. “Today, one in seven people are employed in the healthcare field and one in ten dollars are spent on healthcare.”
Panelist Alison Hong, MD, Interim Vice President, Quality and Patient Safety at the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) discussed the various collaborations that have taken place over the past few years to eliminate hospital acquired infections, reduce patient falls with injury, and more recently to reduce readmissions. Hospitals across the state participate in these collaboratives and establish standards to ensure that we can produce quality outcomes for our patients.
Dr. Jamie Roche, Vice President, Quality and Patient Safety at Hartford Hospital followed by discussing an operating model that is being implemented in all hospitals that are part of Hartford Healthcare leading to improved processes and outcomes. He noted that these efforts support the benefits of system integration within Hartford Healthcare, which will allow us to share best practices, achieve economies of scale and improve communications with staff, patients and the community.
Dr. Ayaz Madraswalla, Chairman of Windham Hospital’s Quality Care Committee discussed the ways that Windham Hospital fosters an environment where staff can be engaged in proactively solving patient safety issues and demonstrating compliance with state and national regulatory agencies. Patient Satisfaction Surveys and input from a Patient and Family Advisory Committee contribute to improving processes that ensure patient safety and the best quality outcomes.
Senator Don Williams addressed the group with a clear understanding of the importance of quality initiatives in hospitals across the state. He talked about the fiscal trials that the State of Connecticut is facing and the need to take advantage of federal dollars that are available for healthcare. Representative Susan Johnson noted her concern about reimbursement rates for hospitals and the need to maintain Medicaid rates. Jim Iacobellis, Vice President, Government Relations (CHA) drove home the message hospitals want to make with our legislative delegation: we must implement the SAGA waiver, which will bring more dollars to hospitals using federal programs that the state is not currently taking advantage of; and there can be no tax on hospitals, as proposed in the Governor’s deficit mitigation plan. “You have a terrific delegation here in the Northeast and they have worked hard to preserve hospital funding. They should be thanked,” noted Iacobellis.
Panelists were, Left to Right: Dick Brvenik, President & CEO, Windham Hospital; Thomas Wilson, Director, Quality and Risk Management, Windham Hospital; Alison Hong, MD, Interim Vice President, Quality and Patient Safety at the Connecticut Hospital Association; Ayaz Madraswalla, MD, Chairman of Windham Hospital’s Quality Care Committee; Jamie Roche, MD, Vice President, Quality and Patient Safety at Hartford Hospital; and Windham Hospital Chief of Staff Eugene Winchester, MD.
Senator Don Williams, President Pro Tem, Connecticut Senate |