Ellinwood Hospital and Clinic Renews Commitment to National Patient Safety Initiative

Ellinwood Hospital and Clinic recently announced its participation in the second round of the national Hospital Engagement Network, known as HEN 2.0, according to Kile Magner, CEO. HEN 2.0 is a 12-month comprehensive patient safety initiative conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services through its Partnership for Patients program. At the state level, Ellinwood Hospital and Clinic is part of the Kansas HEN led by the Topeka-based Kansas Healthcare Collaborative in partnership with the Kansas Hospital Association, the American Hospital Association, and the Health Research and Educational Trust.

Through the Kansas HEN, the hospital works collaboratively with 106 hospitals across the state and 3,700 hospitals across the nation. All are continuing their work in 10 or more core patient safety areas, such as the prevention of falls, infections, and adverse drug events.

“Our top priority is patient safety and experience,” reports Magner. “Since joining the network, we’ve seen a marked decrease in patient falls and injuries, along with an increase in training and awareness among staff. It’s a great achievement that we can positively impact the entire patient experience by keeping everyone safe.”

Hospital leaders and front line staff participate in learning networks and use quality improvement methods and resources to improve care delivery and prevent harm. The initiative involves engagement at all levels of the hospital, as well as patients and families.

“In the future, we’re going to continue improving patient safety and engagement,” Magner explains that the network’s goals in the future specifically on infections and culture of safety. “We already have a culture of safety around the hospital, but it is exciting that we can further that and keep our patients healthy while they’re trying to get well.”

According to a December 1, 2015, report released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the first four years of the HEN contributed to the saving of approximately 87,000 lives and nearly $20 billion in health care costs.

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Ellinwood Hospital and Clinic is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital and Rural Health Clinic. With a 24/7 Emergency Room with 2 beds, The hospital provides inpatient acute care, skilled swing bed, and intermediate swing bed care and many outpatient services: physical and occupational therapy, a full service laboratory, and a full range of imaging services – traditional x-ray, CT, mobile mammography, mobile US/sonography, mobile MRI.

The Ellinwood Clinic offers full family care, from newborn to geriatric care, provided by practitioners that truly care about you and your health.

KHC is a provider-led 501(c)3 organization with a mission to transform health care through patient-centered initiatives that improve quality, safety and value. Founded in 2008 by the Kansas Hospital Association and the Kansas Medical Society, KHC embodies the commitment of two of the state’s leading health care provider groups to act as a resource and continuously enhance the quality of care provided to Kansans. For more information about the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative and its initiatives, visit www.khconline.org.