Last month’s National Patient Safety Week celebrations highlighted the many ways both HUP and CPUP keep patients and their families, and staff safe. This year’s theme was “BE Stronger Together.”
At HUP, roving demonstrations and huddles on the patient care units focused on a variety of topics, including safe patient handling, interpreter services, and workplace violence. At the mid-week Safety Fair, members of the OR staff displayed two ways they’re keeping safety top of mind. With a single click of a new desktop emergency app — easily accessible on computers in the ORs — immediate alert texts and a loud audible signal goes out to the entire perioperative intervention team in the case of an emergency, for example, if a patient codes in one of the operating rooms. And new HoverMatt Air Transfer System will help staff perform lateral transfers (from the OR bed to the stretcher) for patients with body mass index over 40. “Staff love them,” said Joyce Stengel of Perioperative Services. “They make the move effortless.”
Similarly, HoverJacks are now available to help anyone who falls in an area without a portable lift or ceiling-mounted lift and can’t get up. Unlike the mat in the OR, this air mattress expands to bed height. In this way, a person is more easily helped. “I’ve had six coworkers try to lift someone from the ground versus just one or two when using the HoverJack,” said Ryan Moore, of Emergency Management and Safety. “Plus there’s more dignity for the person.” A call to Security (2677) will bring the HoverJack to the exact location, he added.
The HERT (hospital emergency response team) display illustrated how its members protect the hospital and staff from patients entering the building after being exposed to chemical or other dangerous contaminants and prior to being decontaminated. “The team is activated for surge staffing in case of mass casualty or concern for multiple patients coming in with contamination,” said John Welsh, team leader of the HERT task force. “We wear personal protective equipment depending on the contamination and are prepared for chemical, biological, and radiologic emergencies.” The team was activated earlier this year when a patient was brought into the hospital with a possible case of Ebola — though, fortunately, the patient ultimately tested negative for that disease.
One size does not fit all when it comes to hospital equipment cleaners. Members of Infection Control questioned people at their “Instructions on Use” display on which cleaner — alcohol, bleach or peroxide — works best on specific pieces of equipment. According to Kathy Pirolli, infection preventionist, staff should “not rely on third-party information. Look on One Source [on the Intranet home page], which has a searchable database, or call the manufacturer.” This is no time for guessing!
In the Perelman Center atrium, CPUP staff were doing balance screenings, encouraging people to sign up for MyPennMedicine, and providing information on how to safely manage oxygen at home. The Patient Family Education Committee pitted patients and caregivers against staff in a quiz of who knows more. Patients were tested on their knowledge of Ask Me 3 (questions to encourage patient engagement with providers) and MyPennMedicine, while staff answered questions about teach back and health literacy. Both staff and patients were also shown detailed descriptions on three bags of candy, which included ingredients that were unfamiliar and sometimes difficult to pronounce! It just goes to show: Even in food descriptions, literacy is important.