HRMC Wins Six Zero Harm Awards for Commitment to Patient Safety
VARNVILLE, S.C. (October 19, 2020) - The South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA) has awarded Hampton Regional Medical Center (HRMC) for its tremendous efforts in eliminating medical errors as part of the Zero Harm program.
HRMC earned six awards for prevention of hospital-acquired infections in the following areas:
- SSI - Knee Replacement • 30 Months
- Hospital onset C.diff • 18 Months
- Hospital onset MRSA • 54 Months
- SSI - Hip Replacement • 88 Months
- CLABSI ICU • 88 Months
- SSI - Colon Surgery • 88 Months
This remarkable achievement is a testament to the dedication of its clinical staff and the facility's commitment to the highest quality of care, even while presented with extraordinary challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"These Zero Harm awards reflect the safe, quality care our clinicians provide each day at Hampton Regional," said Melanie Wooten, RN, Quality Assurance Coordinator. "We are continuing to expand services in our community, while following best practices and maintaining exemplary performance in patient safety."
Launched in 2014, the SCHA Zero Harm Award program celebrates hospitals who have had extended harm-free stretches in major surgical areas like knee replacements, hip replacements, colon surgery, and abdominal hysterectomy, or gone months without a Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infection (CLABSI). These awards are indicative of a culture committed to patient safety and providing highly reliable care. All of the hospital data used for these awards is also independently verified by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
According to Dave Hamill, President and CEO of HRMC, this is a notable milestone not only for the hospital, but for its patients, both local and throughout the Lowcountry, who deserve access to the best of care.
"Recognition as a Zero Harm Award recipient affirms our efforts to consistently put the health and safety of our patients first, ensuring safe access to care in a safe environment close to home," said Hamill. "Amid unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19, our clinical staff stands firm in the face of adversity. I am truly inspired by their hard work and unwavering commitment to those we serve."
South Carolina hospitals are on the forefront of a larger movement towards high reliability and a Zero Harm mindset. In collaboration with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and The Joint Commission Center for Transforming Health, South Carolina hospitals have been united in statewide efforts to create a culture of high reliability and reduce harm in its facilities by implementing robust, evidence-based practices that are making a positive impact on patients and the safety and quality of care.
"Zero Harm is about taking the principles of high reliability and applying them to how we deliver healthcare in South Carolina," said Thornton Kirby, President and CEO, SCHA. "The fact that the state's hospitals increased the number of Zero Harm Awards in the midst of a global pandemic is a testament to their commitment to improving care delivery."
"The community can trust that we provide top-quality care to every patient every time," added Wooten. "You do not have to travel out of town to receive excellent medical care. We are prepared, ready, and available when you need us."
For a complete list of 2020 Zero Harm winners and to learn more about the program, please visit the SCHA Certified Zero Harm webpage.
Award acronyms denote:
SSI: Surgical Site Infections
C. diff: Clostridium Difficile
MRSA: Methicillin - Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
CLABSI: Central Line - Associated Blood Stream Infections
