The ED's Safety Improvement Initiatives

• Through the second quarter of FY08 the ED had no Serious Reportable Events or Medication Errors Causing Harm as defined by the National Quality    Forum.
  
  
• Full barrier precautions for placement of central venous lines in septic patients was 100% resulting in almost zero central line associates infections.
  
  
• A research study using the Communication Assessment Tool was used to explore communication barriers in the ED. Currently every member of the ED, including nurses, technicians, secretaries and physicians are involved in a second phase, in-depth analysis of communication practices. 
  
  
• “Assessing the Culture of Safety in an Emergency Department Residency Program” was presented at the AHRQ Annual Meeting. 
  
  
• An AHRQ funded project using simulation to improve shift-change patient handovers is beginning to reveal important information on this high-risk process.
  
  
• Safety presentations have been given at the Joint Commission Resources/ Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Chicago Patient Safety Forum, Society of Academic Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting, and Institute for Healthcare Studies at Northwestern University.
  
  
• In May and June 2008 presentations on operational initiatives which improve patient safety will be offered at the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting and Emergency Department Benchmarking Alliance Conference. 
  
  
• Drs. Peter Pang (Associate Chief) and Sarah Donlan (Chief Resident) organized the first annual “Patient Safety Day in Emergency Medicine” on September 19, 2007. Over 200 participants from throughout Chicago attended to hear national and international safety issues. 
  
  
• In October 2008, Dr. John Vozenilek assumed the new role as Director of Simulation Technology and Immersive Learning for the Feinberg School of Medicine. This position provides central coordination and oversight to help undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education use the powerful tool of simulation to meet educational and patient safety tools. Along with his work in the medical school, Dr. Vozenilek will be actively involved in the academic programs of the Department of Emergency Medicine. Some of his efforts that will affect the ED’s safety initiatives include: 
  -        ED in situ simulations (multi-professional team training in ED) for Adult and Pediatric Trauma (2) ED in situ simulations (multi-professional team     training in ED) for Adult and Pediatric Critical Care, Cardiovascular and Neurological Emergencies
  -        High Fidelity Immersive simulations for the above emergencies and others in the Scope of Practice as established by ABEM and ACEP
  -        Advances Bioterrorism Triage Courses
  -        Emergency Preparedness (Evacuation/ Mass Casualty Training)
  -        Transitions of Care Quality Improvement Education
  
  
• Dr. Christopher Beach (Vice Chair) has a dual appointment as Assistant Professor of the Institute for Patient Safety at Northwestern University and Chair of the Patient Safety Interest Group for SAEM, as well as an active member of the Quality and Patient Safety Committee for the American College of Emergency Physicians.
  
  
• Drs. Christopher Beach (Vice Chair) John Vozenilek (Director of Northwestern McGaw Simulation Network) and Rahul Khare (Assistant Director of Operations) are assistant professors for the Institute of HealthCare Studies and Patient Safety.
  
  
• Dr. Vozenilek (Director of Northwestern McGaw Simulation Network) serves as medical advisor to the Chicago Clinical Skills Evaluation Center of the National Baord of Medical Examiners, and has led the interest group on simulation within the Society for Academic Emergency Medicin.