Regional West Launches Condition Help to Empower Patients

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., –According to the Josie King Foundation, 98,000 people die every year from medical errors. These errors are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.

In response to these and other alarming statistics, Regional West and other health care facilities nation wide banded together in a combined effort to increase patient safety. Through partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and subsequent programs such as the 1,000,000 Lives Campaign, a concept evolved for speeding response to the patient bedside in the event of a rapid clinical deterioration. Most facilities are calling these tactical groups “rapid response teams.” Regional West’s staff activated Rapid Response Team was recently recognized for excellence by the Nebraska Hospital Association. Above average response by staff resulted in a subsequent reduction of respiratory and/or cardiac arrest outside of the Intensive Care Unit, not to mention increased positive outcomes for dismissal.

As Rapid Response Teams spread across the nation, the IHI moved on to partner with the Josie King Foundation to increase involvement of patients and their families in health care. The foundation was founded in honor of 18-month old Josie King who passed away at Johns Hopkins Hospital after a series of medical errors. Josie’s family is very active in raising awareness of medical errors. Their goal is to prevent similar tragedies by promoting a patient activated rapid response team extension called Condition Help.

Patients and their families can activate Condition Help based on specific criteria. Beginning September 22, patients’ family and loved ones at Regional West have the option of activating Condition Help.

Condition help may be activated by family or loved ones when:
--They have spoken to the nurse, charge nurse or physician and still feel their concerns have not been addressed.
--There is a noticeable, clinical change in the patient and the health care team is not present or is not responding to the patient’s or visitors’ concerns.
--There is a breakdown in how care is being managed or confusion about the plan of care.

“When our patients are at home and have a medical emergency, they have the option of calling 911. We feel they have the same right while patients at Regional West,” says Shirley Knodel, Chief Nursing Officer at Regional West. “It’s not a tool to be taken lightly however; it is designed for use in emergency situations only.”

Patients and their loved ones will be given more information upon admission at Regional West about the Condition Help program. In addition, fact sheets and posters will remind them how and when to activate if necessary.

“At Regional West we are excited about our direction towards a patient centered care model, it’s important to have input from the patient or family in their care. Involvement from the family or patient is a great safety measure and means of protection for our patients”

Regional West Health Services, with over 1,400 employees, provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, we offer care that spans more than 30 medical specialties. Regional West Medical Center, a subsidiary of Regional West Health Services, is accredited by The Joint Commission and is one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state of Nebraska