Quality Corner

December Highlights of Performance Improvement at SHC
Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Committee [QIPSC],
Joseph Hopkins, associate chief of staff, chair

• DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) Initiative — VTE (Venous Thrombus Events)

• Improvements DVT/PE (Pulmonary Embolism) prophylaxis rates
  • Compliance — significant improvement at 82 percent
  • Incidence — reduced 50 percent between Sept. ’05 and Sept.
• Improvements attributed primarily to work of quality specialist who reinforced DVT/PE prophylaxis on units
• QIPSC recommended a structured approach to integrate evidence-based procedures into physician practice to be monitored by QIPSC