FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2024
CONTACT: [email protected]
Florida Hospital Association Hosts 2nd Annual Quality and Patient Safety Conference
Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Hospital Association (FHA) hosted its second annual Quality and Patient Safety Conference last month, where health care professionals convened to learn from national and state health care experts about valuable insights, practical strategies and proven technology for improving patient outcomes.
“Florida hospitals continually and relentlessly pursue a high-quality, patient-centered health care delivery system for Florida residents,” said Mary C. Mayhew, president and CEO of FHA. “Convening peer healthcare leaders is instrumental in achieving these goals, and FHA is committed to this task. These efforts ensure Floridians have world-class care close to home now and in the future.”
Keynote speaker Martin Hatlie, president and CEO of Project Patient Care, shared compelling data and moving examples of outcomes to inspire performance initiatives and acknowledge the accomplishments of Florida hospitals. Following Mr. Hatlie’s presentation, Ms. Mayhew led a dynamic panel highlighting strategies that Florida’s hospitals have adopted to promote quality measures and patient safety. Joyce Nichols, vice president and chief nursing officer of Baptist Health Care Pensacola, alongside Michael Mayo, DHA, FACHE, president and CEO of Baptist Health System and the chair of FHA’s Quality and Patient Safety Committee, joined Ms. Mayhew for an inspiring conversation on strategies hospitals have adopted to promote the delivery of quality care and patient safety.
“Advancements in innovation and technologies are truly transforming the quality of care patients receive in Florida hospitals,” said Michael A. Mayo, DHA, FACHE, president and CEO of Baptist Health System and the chair of FHA’s Quality and Patient Safety Committee. “We are leading with compassion and dedication to provide Florida families the highest standard of care.”
Additional key highlights from FHA’s 2024 Quality and Patient Safety Conference include:
Maternal Care
Cole Greves, MD, FACOG, Director of Complex Fetal Care, Co-Director, Fetal Care Center at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital, shared opportunities to reduce preventable deaths with crucial intervention strategies and important care transitions and provided compelling data on the challenges facing our country and state regarding maternal mortality. Data shows that 75% of all maternal deaths occur in the postpartum period, demonstrating that patient-centered health care across the continuum is a critical priority for improving patient outcomes. Florida hospitals are making great strides in advancing maternal health care, reflected by the 31 health care systems granted 2022 Excellence in Maternal Care Awards.
Medicaid Quality Initiatives
Christopher Cogle, MD, chief medical officer of Florida Medicaid at the Agency for Health Care Administration and a professor of medicine at the University of Florida, emphasized the importance of collaboration between Medicaid, health plans and providers to improve care. He also highlighted how Medicaid can support quality initiatives and, in turn, improve the health and well-being of Floridians.
Improving Access to Care
Joy Lewis, MSW, MPH senior vice president of Health Equity Strategies at the American Hospital Association and executive director of the Institute for Diversity and Health Equity (IFDHE), shared key components of the American Hospital Association’s Health Equity Roadmap and the link to improving patient outcomes. Cathy Grant, MPA, CDM, with Moffitt Cancer Center, and Isis Zambrana, with Jackson Health System, joined Lewis to highlight health access initiatives Florida hospitals are implementing.
Patient Safety and Hospital Safety Culture
Marcus Schabacker, MD, PhD, president and CEO of ECRI, reviewed the “Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns and Strategies for Hospitals” and strategies for hospitals to create organizational resilience to navigate threats and strive for total system safety. He emphasized the importance of creating a non-punitive approach through a just culture and learning how to support continuous quality improvement. Elizabeth Mort, MD, a primary care physician, Chief Medical Officer of The Joint Commission and a National Advisory Council (NAC) member of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), underscored the importance of creating a workplace environment – physically and mentally for staff – that drives quality care and high reliability.
Laura Arline, MD, FACP, FAAP, vice president and chief quality officer of BayCare Health System, Scott Dimmick, senior vice president, chief human resources officer of Lakeland Regional Health, and Jill C. White, RN, MPH, CPHQ, CPPS, corporate director of quality, patient safety and regulatory affairs at Baptist Health South Florida, participated in a discussion about the work they are doing to measure and implement strategies to improve safety culture.
To learn more about FHA and its efforts to support Florida hospitals in providing safe, high-quality care, visit www.FHA.org.
ABOUT THE FHA
Founded in 1927, the Florida Hospital Association (FHA) is the leading voice for health care in the State of Florida. Through representation and advocacy, education, and informational services, the Florida Hospital Association supports the mission of over 200 hospitals and health care systems to provide the highest quality of care to the patients we serve. Led by President and CEO Mary Mayhew, the Florida Hospital Association is located in Tallahassee and is governed by a Board of Trustees and officers elected by the member institutions.
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