Patient’s First: Mirroring the Cleveland Clinic’s theme “Patient’s First”, the Quality and Patient Safety Institute’s priority is to create a culture of “best practices” ensuring its patients optimal, appropriate care in the safest environment.
The Team: The Quality and Patient Safety Institute comprises the departments of Accreditation, Clinical Risk Management, Data Resource Management, Environmental Safety, Infection Control, Outcomes, and Quality. The institute focuses on reconnecting quality and patient safety with clinical care. This collaboration supports the Cleveland Clinic health system’s commitment to quality and patient care, which parallels major healthcare initiatives nationwide.
Outcomes
Cleveland Clinic has always been a strong advocate of informing people about specific data related to finding quality hospital care. We believe that informed patients are able to participate better in their own care. The Outcomes Books offer detailed information and data to help patients and their physicians make informed decisions about treatment for a wide-range of medical diseases and conditions. Click here to view our latest outcomes books.
Accreditation
The Department of Accreditation provides guidance to ensure Cleveland Clinic is continually in compliance with the highest level of quality care and patient safety standards as set by Joint Commission, CMS, NCQA, ODH and other regulatory agencies.
Clinical Risk Management
Clinical Risk Management approaches improving the quality and safe delivery of health care by identifying situations that may put patients at risk, and acting to prevent or control those risks. Our role, like that of all Cleveland Clinic employees, is to put patients first.
Data Resource Management
Effective quality improvement requires valid and reliable data. The Quality and Safety Institute’s Data Department develops overall quality measurement tools and reporting plans. Database design, data collection, and reporting findings are key activities.
Environmental Health and Safety
The Environmental Health and Safety department is committed to creating, promoting and maintaining a safe, healthy environment for all employees, patients, and visitors at Cleveland Clinic. It’s our policy to maintain a safety program conforming to all applicable local, state and federal safety and health standards, fire codes, and environmental regulations. Whenever possible, Cleveland Clinic makes every effort to exceed these regulations.
Infection Control
Infection Control practitioners diligently work to improve the quality of health care through infection control practices and on-going education. The Department is dedicated to improving patient care, preventing adverse outcomes and promoting patient safety while minimizing occupational hazards for Clinic employees. Recent initiatives include the hand hygiene and flu vaccine programs.
Patient Safety
Safety is a priority at Cleveland Clinic. Reducing risk and ensuring safety requires increased attention to systems that prevent and mitigate errors. The Cleveland Clinic Patient Safety Program focuses on continuous enhancement of safety for all patients, visitors and employees. Every employee plays a critical role in ensuring patient, visitor and employee safety. Additionally, the program strives for a culture of safety by implementing strategies to reduce medical errors.
Process Improvement
The Process Improvement team works with Cleveland Clinic departments to provide appropriate solutions to ensure best practices resulting in quality patient care and service. Using improvement techniques, department’s work together to maximize the work environment and processes involved in daily patient care. Strategies include:
- Six Sigma - DMAIC – (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control)
- Lean (5S, Visual Controls, Value Stream Mapping)
- PDCA (Pan, Do, Check, Act)
- FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis)
Quality
Department of Quality oversees a comprehensive program to monitor, assess and improve the quality of patient care and operational processes delivered at the Cleveland Clinic. This plan supports the organizational mission to provide high quality care and to continuously improve our performance. The Department of Quality works hand and hand with all of the institutes to identify and address quality.
