Health systems, physician receive 2019 Eisenberg quality awards

Two health systems and a physician yesterday received 2019 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards from The Joint Commission and National Quality Forum for “groundbreaking” initiatives at the national, local and individual level. Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare received the national innovation award for an algorithm that signals potential sepsis six hours earlier than traditional screenings.

WellSpan Health, based in York, Pa., received the local innovation award for a system-wide approach that combines technology and trained medical staff to save lives and engage in early sepsis intervention. Gordon Schiff, M.D., general internist and associate director of the Center for Patient Safety Research and Practice at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, received the individual achievement award for his career-spanning efforts to improve medication and diagnostic safety.