Springfield Memorial integrates patient safety programs

An American Hospital Association case study describes how Springfield Memorial Hospital in central Illinois prioritizes patient safety. Its Great Catch Award upholds a culture of continuous improvement by catching safety gaps before they reach patients or staff. The hospital highlights stories of safety practices on individual units. It also uses an Equity Scorecard to highlight outcomes and strategically prioritize initiatives to reduce disparities. The hospital uses the scorecard to understand inequities by portraying clinical outcomes stratified by the social determinants of health and demographics for all projects the hospital undertakes. To reduce workplace violence events, Springfield Memorial organizes Safety Summits to raise awareness of the issue and to foster more effective partnerships with law enforcement.