Quality

People come to hospitals at their most vulnerable and hopeful times – for the birth of a baby, a health emergency, surgery, the end of life. Local hospitals affiliated with Community Health Systems appreciate the trust of their patients, striving to meet their needs for quality health services and their expectations for a satisfying experience. Thousands of frontline caregivers are focused on evidence-based medicine, processes and clinical care paths that improve outcomes and patient safety. Numerous awards and accreditations recognize this commitment and underscore how important quality is to our organization.

High Reliability

Members of the medical staff and employees at affiliated hospitals are focused on continuous improvement in quality of care and patient safety. On their journey to high reliability, they are using techniques from high-risk industries like nuclear power and aviation to create inherently safe hospital environments. This work has resulted in a consistent reduction of the serious safety event rate since 2013.

Patient Safety Organization

All CHS-affiliated hospitals are participants in an affiliated component Patient Safety Organization (PSO). PSOs were authorized under the Patient Safety Act of 2005 and are designed to improve the quality and safety of U.S. healthcare delivery. By providing both privilege and confidentiality, PSOs create a secure environment where clinicians and health systems can collect, aggregate and analyze data, thereby improving quality by identifying and reducing the risks and hazards associated with patient care. Currently there are only 96 listed PSOs in the United States.

Ongoing Research Collaboration With Harvard

CHS-affiliated hospitals are working collaboratively with faculty at Ariadne Labs and the Harvard Business School on their continuing research related to the World Health Organization (WHO) Safe Surgery Checklist. Ariadne Labs’ Safe Surgery program has demonstrated a significant reduction in surgical mortality and complications with the use of this tool, which is used in operating rooms at CHS-affiliated hospitals. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Ariadne Labs is a joint center for health systems innovation between Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, led by Atul Gawande, MD, MPH, surgeon, professor, public health researcher and author of several best-selling books.

Specialty Accreditations

Many CHS-affiliated hospitals have gained accreditation for specialized services, including: