State Honors Adventist HealthCare Hospitals for Patient Safety Innovation Projects

Gaithersburg, MD – Four innovations from Adventist HealthCare hospitals have earned Top 20 recognition from the Maryland Patient Safety Center in its 2019 search for solutions to improve the quality of healthcare.

Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center had two Circle of Honor projects in the center’s annual Patient Safety Innovation Awards. Shady Grove’s winning entries focused on: improved mental healthcare processes; and easing recovery after colorectal surgery.

The center also recognized Adventist HealthCare Washington Adventist Hospital for two initiatives: reducing antibiotic use in newborns; and improving healing, outcomes and experiences for patients with complex wounds.

“Our caregivers make safe, quality care their priority every day,” said Susan Glover, RN, Adventist HealthCare’s Senior Vice President and Chief Quality & Integrity Officer. “These honors from the Maryland Patient Safety Center demonstrate their dedication. Our teams are looking carefully at the needs of our patients and finding new approaches to bring them the very best care.”

The hospitals were the only Montgomery County facilities in the Top 20 list. They will receive their awards at the Maryland Patient Safety Center’s annual conference, which takes place April 5 in Baltimore. Adventist HealthCare projects earning recognition were:

• Decreasing Percentage of Postponed Discharges by Kristen Pruitt, Clinical Manager of Partial Hospitalization Program and Intensive Outpatient Program at Shady Grove Medical Center
• Enhanced Recovery after Colorectal Surgery by Vivek Patel, MD, Surgeon and Project Lead, Shady Grove Medical Center
• Neonatal Antibiotic Therapy with Chorioamnionitis by Michele Schwarzmann, RN, Director of Women’s Services at Washington Adventist Hospital
• Decrease Patient Outlier Rate Related to Wound Healing by Naomi Oliker, Director of the Center for Advanced Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine at Washington Adventist Hospital

Adventist HealthCare offers a full range of health and wellness services to the community including acute hospital care, rehabilitation, mental and behavioral health services, home care, health education, urgent care, imaging centers, a physician network and wellness services for businesses. Based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Adventist HealthCare is one of the largest employers in the state, with approximately 5,500 employees. Our Mission is to extend God’s care through the ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing.