I am running for the board of directors for BRMC with the intention of being a voice for quality assurance related to patient care. It is very much the responsibility of the governing board of any health care facility to reduce patient harm, or the potential thereof, and to improve quality care. The finances of an institution are directly related to the quality care and prevention of adverse events. Medicare reimbursements for care are reduced and often eliminated when certain events occur, including adverse drug events, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, central line-associated blood stream infections, injuries from falls, obstetrical adverse events, early elective deliveries, pressure ulcers, surgical site infections, venous thromboembolisms and ventilator-associated pneumonias.
In short, quality care is essential, not only for the patients but also for the health of the facility. It matters, greatly, and it
is the board of directors' responsibility!
But to reinforce what I am communicating, I have included below some quotes from respected healthcare experts. Thank you for reading.
"Hospital boards have long had the duty of overseeing the delivery of patient care in their organizations, and are ultimately responsible for the quality and safety of that care. The traditional reluctance of boards, particularly the outside directors, to fully exercise their authority for supervision is breaking down in the face of growing awareness that the success of quality-improvement and patient safety activities involves more than medical decision making. As quality issues become more tightly intertwined with the financial health of hospitals, board members may find it easier to take a more active leadership role on the hospital's quality agenda and firmly establish quality improvement as a top priority for the organization. The adoption of national quality-reporting and quality improvement programs and the development of evidence-based best practices for the board, are raising the quality bar for both hospitals and their governing boards. Not only do these initiatives reveal what can be accomplished, they are beginning to demonstrate how. Boards have the authority, responsibility and skill to insist on the implementation of effective and accountable quality-improvement and patient safety systems and processes. It is hoped that advances in the field, and that a transparent sharing of relevant and necessary information, will give them the tools and confidence to do so."
Youngberg, Barbara. Principles of Risk Management and Patient Safety. Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2010.
"When examining the success of high performing
hospitals and health systems,
a common thread often found among such
organizations are Trustees who are highly
educated on the importance of quality,
actively engaged in setting performance goals
and committed to advancing quality and
safety within the organization."
""Improving patient safety and
eliminating patient harm is job number
one for Trustees."– Rich Umbdenstock,
President & CEO, American Hospital Association"
"Boards must ensure that their hospital/health system has a clearly defined culture
that centers on the patient and emphasizes transparency, reward and recognition. Boards must oversee the process of assessing their organizations’ values, policies and
leadership actions against its desired culture and then implement changes as needed. Boards must understand that a “safety culture” involves training, education,
resources, trust, respect and a clear set of expected values and behaviors – and it is
the Board’s role to ensure that the desired culture is achieved."
Eliminating Harm, Improving Patient Care: A Trustee Guide. American Hospital Association,
Health Research & Educational Trust, Center for Healthcare Governance and
Trustee Magazine as part of the Partnership for
Patients’ Hospital Engagement Network initiative.
Elect Sharina Rodriguez, RN for Hospital Board
* Patient Advocate
* Support Positive Change at an Administrative Level
* A Vote for me is a Vote for the Patients of BRMC
Believe me, I am not this cool. And this election is in May, not the fifth of November. (For those of you familiar with this reference.)