WellSpan Health, a healthcare provider in Pennsylvania and Maryland, has been awarded the American Hospital Association (AHA) Quest for Quality prize for leadership and innovation in quality performance improvement. According to the AHA, WellSpan’s safety infrastructure was particularly impressive, with daily huddles used to escalate any potential issues across the organization to ensure decisions regarding patient care could be made quickly and efficiently. The healthcare provider also aimed to create a sense of psychological safety within the organization, so that all team members, including frontline care providers, could feel empowered to share their perspectives and quickly address any safety issues that may arise. This approach led to a significant decrease in serious safety events during care, as well as a significant increase in team members who felt empowered to stop the line and report patient safety events.
The AHA committee members also praised WellSpan’s strategic use of technology, such as AI and customizable dashboards, to monitor patient deterioration and for transcription, credentialing, and orientation. They applauded WellSpan for creating an AI governance committee. The healthcare provider’s commitment to reducing health disparities in the communities it serves was also highlighted, with a focus on support for York’s large Haitian population and pregnant mothers, as well as WellSpan’s efforts to reduce gun violence. The AHA will present the award to WellSpan health officials at the AHA Leadership Summit in San Diego.
WellSpan Health’s vision is to “reimagine healthcare through the delivery of comprehensive, equitable health and wellness solutions throughout our continuum of care.” The healthcare provider encompasses over 2,300 employed providers, 220 locations, nine award-winning hospitals, home care, and a behavioral health organization and serves central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. WellSpan’s clinically integrated network of 3,000 aligned physicians and advanced practice providers is dedicated to providing high quality and safety, inspiring patients and communities to be their healthiest. More details on WellSpan’s safety and quality priorities can be found at www.Wellspan.org/Quality.