Investment: Quality
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Quality is the cornerstone of everything we stand for. It is the foundation of the Backus brand, the promise we make to our community, and the reason for our existence.
Maintaining our commitment to quality healthcare is based on our ability to recruit and retain an excellent team - doctors, staff and volunteers. It takes a relentless focus on basic standards, even as we pursue new and uncharted opportunities. It means measuring what we do, and using data as a tool to drive success.
Outcomes:
Life-saving teamwork
Elimination of central line infections in Critical Care
Patients who are hospitalized in Critical Care Units (CCUs) frequently require devices called "central lines" to provide the many medications and fluids they need. But central lines are prone to infections. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement estimates they cause 4,000 deaths in CCUs each year, nationwide.
Backus has successfully eliminated these CCU infections for more than a yearand-a-half. This required a full team effort from many departments and disciplines; an intensive review of data, medical literature and best practices; and the unwavering commitment of frontline caregivers.
To recognize this life-saving achievement, the Connecticut Hospital Association awarded Backus the prestigious John D. Thompson Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Healthcare Through the Use of Data.
Comprehensive cancer care - close to home
A perfect score for Backus Cancer Services
Backus Hospital's Cancer Center was awarded the Commission on Cancer's Outstanding Achievement Award - the only Connecticut hospital ever to do so. In fact, only 67 cancer centers in the entire nation earned this honor in 2008.
Cancer patients and their loved ones can be assured in the knowledge that the cancer care at Backus is the best it can be. The American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer awarded Backus a perfect score in its demanding accreditation survey, with nine out of nine commendations.
The Commission also recognized Backus caregivers, and honored Mark Tramontozzi, MD, a surgeon on the Backus Medical Staff, as a champion for his service as the hospital's Cancer Liaison Physician.
Better care in emergencies
Patients say Backus is among the best in the nation
No one likes to come to the Emergency Department. But medical emergencies are part of life, and providing urgent and emergent care is a major responsibility of a community hospital.
This past year, our Emergency Department patients provided gratifying news:
Not only are they satisfied with their care at Backus, they believe it is among the very best in the U.S. Patient survey results from the nation's largest independent research firm place overall satisfaction with the Backus Emergency Department at the 99th percentile - the very top. This occurred during a year in which there were a record-setting 59,090 ED visits.
As with everything in healthcare, providing great outcomes requires a team effort, with a constant focus on patient needs and process improvements. Teamwork in and out of our Emergency Department, data-driven results and compassionate care make a difference.
Safety, quality and satisfaction
All three add up to patient-centered care
Patient Safety is everybody's business, but this past year Backus Hospital took additional strides to stress the importance of safety by adding a full-time Director of Patient Safety, Bonnie Thompson, APRN.
There is no shortage of safety initiatives to oversee - from core measures to track the effectiveness of medical care like the treatment of heart attacks; to the implementation of national Patient Safety Standards; to basic precautions like hand hygiene for staff, patients and visitors.
Backus knows safety, quality and the patient's experience are intertwined, and we are proud of our culture of safety. Our reputation - and your health - depends on it.