For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:
David Kanihan, 612-262-4986

Focus on patient safety and quality is paying off at Allina hospitals

MINNEAPOLIS 06/23/2008--Six Allina hospitals received Patient Safety Excellence Awards from the Minnesota Hospital Association, the MHA announced today. The awards honor hospitals that have implemented at least 90 percent of the best practices identified in safety campaigns to prevent harmful falls, pressure ulcers or bed sores, retention of surgical objects and wrong-site surgeries.

"Patient safety is a top priority at Allina, and I'm excited to see that our efforts are gaining state-wide recognition," said Penny Wheeler, MD, Allina chief clinical officer. "Through collaboration across Allina, as well as adopting best practices like those we helped develop with MHA, we are seeing measurable differences in the safety of the care we provide."

Safety campaign awards

Each quarter, the Minnesota Hospital Association recognizes hospitals that are actively participating in one of MHA's safety campaigns.

• Buffalo Hospital and Mercy Hospital will be honored for their implementation of the SAFE COUNT campaign, which aims to reduce retained objects in labor and delivery. Buffalo and Mercy are the only two hospitals in Minnesota to receive this award.
• Owatonna Hospital, New Ulm Medical Center and United Hospital were recognized in the SAFE from FALLS category to reduce patient falls in the hospital.
• Abbott Northwestern Hospital was recognized in the SAFE SKIN category for its work to prevent pressure ulcers.

Dr. Wheeler credits programs such as hourly rounding, additional counting of surgical instruments and sponges, taking a "time out" before each surgery, and early identification of patients at risk for pressure ulcers, for safety and quality improvements at Allina hospitals.

About Allina Hospitals & Clinics

Allina Hospitals & Clinics is a not-for-profit health care system of hospitals, clinics, and other patient care services that provides exceptional care to communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin and employs more than 22,000 people. Allina facilities, services and jobs can be found online at allina.com.

For more about Allina's patient safety and quality efforts, go to allina.com/quality.