The inaugural UNC Medical Center Quality and Safety Awards were held at the Medical Center Improvement Council (MCIC) meeting on January 14th in Cancer Hospital, Conference Room 1. Although quality and safety efforts are often celebrated at the department level, this program was created to elevate the recognition of outstanding improvement to the level of senior leadership. Janet Hadar, President of UNC Hospitals, and Dr. Tom Ivester, Chief Medical Officer, presented the awards.
The 2019 recipients included one inpatient team and one outpatient team. The inpatient team included members from the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit, who decreased the number of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) infections from 9 in FY17 and 9 in FY18 to 6 PVAPs in FY19 and 0 PVAPs for FY20 so far. They accomplished their results by improving education on a number of processes, including the steps of oral care, subglottic ETT care, and handwashing around oral care and suction. The team also increased the use of subglottic ETT.
Recognized team members include:
- David Baker, MSN, RN, SCRN
- Sarah Biancaniello, RRT, RCP
- Brooke Brewer, BSN, RN, MS, CNML
- Loree Kimball, BSN, RN, CCRN
- Alison Latimer, RRT, RCP
- Sonya Lester, BSN, RN, CCRN
- Bonnie Locklear, BSN, RN, CCRN
- Jackie Lyon, BSN, RN
- Casey Olm-Shipman, MD, MS
- Diana Sedito, BSN, RN, CCRN
The outpatient team included members from the Infectious Diseases Clinic, who increased the percentage of youth 18-24 in the clinic with undetectable HIV viral load (RNA) from 80% in July 2018 to 86.67% in July 2019. Their project, “Improving Viral Load Suppression Among Youth Living with HIV Through an ‘Undetectable = Untransmittable’ Educational Initiative” won first place at the Quality Expo this past fall.
Recognized team members include:
- Emily Duberman, LCSWA, CHES
- Amy Durr, FNP
- Christopher Hurt, MD
The 2019 awardees received a cake reception prior to the MCIC meeting and individual plaques commemorating their achievements.
A formal nomination and selection process is being solidified for a larger, annual awards program that will occur prior to the MCIC meeting in October. Look for a call for nominations to be posted in Employee News and Vital Signs in May.