WHA is currently a partner in the Great Lakes Partners for Patients, an important collaboration that involves the Michigan Hospital & Health Association and the Illinois Hospital Association. Together, we continue efforts to improve patient safety and quality as part of a Hospital Improvement Innovation Network (HIIN). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awards funding to HIINs for quality improvement efforts.
Over the past two years, the Great Lakes Partners for Patients HIIN has focused on reducing preventable readmissions by 12% and hospital-acquired harm by 20%. However, ventilator-associated events (VAEs) have not declined during that time, which has prompted CMS to include them as an area of focus for hospitals.
To help support organizations improve patient outcomes, WHA is offering free simulation lab event training for ICU teams to review and practice strategies to prevent VAEs.
- Participants will review best practices and tools that can be incorporated into patient care with minimal disruption, and the lab portion allows attendees to practice new strategies.
- A hands-on, true to life experience with an extensive collection of progressive medical equipment, simulator manikins, and trainers will be used. Equipment is carefully selected to closely replicate treating an actual procedure, injury or condition.
- Front line and management staff better understand and incorporate new skills into practice.
- Respiratory therapists, education coordinators, infection preventionists, nurses and other clinical leaders will learn how to improve their current processes and focus on reducing patient harm across all settings.
WHA is partnering with subject matter expert Pat Posa and two Wisconsin simulation centers to immerse participants in high-definition clinical scenarios. The Gundersen Health Center Integrated Center for Education (ICE House) and the Center for Healthcare Education and Simulation (CHES) venues provide multi-modal education focused on VAE and Critical Care.
Pat Posa, RN, MSA, CCRN-K, FAAN, is a recognized subject matter expert in improving care for ventilator-dependent patients, and leads simulation events for the Great Lakes Partners for Patients participant hospitals
The first session was provided at CHES last week, and feedback from the 13 organizations represented included, “I am so glad I came today!” and “I am going to take this back not just to our ICU, but across the organization, as we should be doing these assessments on all units.”
Join us for the next training March 4 in La Crosse.
Register now.