Allina hospitals receive Minnesota Hospital Association Patient Safety Excellence Awards

MINNEAPOLIS 10/17/2008--Nine hospitals of Allina Hospitals & Clinics have received Patient Safety Excellence Awards from the Minnesota Hospital Association.

The awards, announced by the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) today, honor hospitals that have implemented at least 90 percent of the best practices identified in MHA's safety campaigns.

"Patient safety is a top priority at Allina, and I’m excited to see that our efforts continue to gain state-wide recognition," said Penny Wheeler, MD, Allina's chief clinical officer."Through collaboration across Allina, as well as adopting best practices like those we helped develop with MHA, we are seeing measurable differences in the safety of the care we provide."

Reducing patient falls

Buffalo Hospital and St. Francis Regional Medical Center are recognized in the "Safe from Falls" category to reduce patient falls in the hospital.

Preventing pressure ulcers

New Ulm Medical Center and Owatonna Hospital are recognized in the "Safe Skin" category for their work to prevent pressure ulcers.

Reducing retained objects

Abbott Northwestern, United and Unity Hospitals are honored for their implementation of the "Safe Count" campaign to reduce retained objects in labor and delivery.

Preventing surgical errors

Cambridge Medical Center, Phillips Eye Institute, United and Unity hospitals are recognized in the "Safe Site" category to prevent adverse surgical events.

About Allina Hospitals & Clinics

Allina Hospitals & Clinics is a not-for-profit family of hospitals, clinics and other care services dedicated to meeting the lifelong health care needs of communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

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