HANYS Provides Free Video Training Series To Fight Hospital Infections And Improve Care, New York

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 05 Oct 2007 - 4:00 PDT

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As part of its continual efforts to improve health care quality, the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) announced it has provided hospitals and nursing schools across New York with a state-of-the-art video training series aimed at improving quality and patient safety at New York's hospitals and health care facilities. The series, provided free of charge to more than 200 hospitals and nursing schools, features six techniques proven to improve patient outcomes, reduce errors, and prevent dangerous hospital infections.

"New York State's hospitals save thousands of lives every day. As technology and techniques evolve, health care professionals constantly strive to improve the quality of care delivered to their patients," HANYS' President Daniel Sisto said. "This video series is a valuable tool in the never-ending efforts to achieve ever-higher standards of care in our hospitals."

The HANYS video series includes a total of six education programs on CD and DVD addressing each component of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's (IHI) "100,000 Lives Campaign." IHI is a nationally renowned, independent health care quality improvement organization dedicated to improving patient care and outcomes. Each multimedia video contains education on the initiatives' evidence-based rationale, quality improvement principles, best practices, lessons learned, and success stories presented by peer hospitals from across New York State. Each video also includes an actual hands-on demonstration of techniques associated with six specific areas of focus, including:

- Deploying rapid response teams when a patient's health begins to deteriorate;
- Delivering evidence-based care for heart attacks;
- Preventing adverse drug events;
- Preventing central-line infections;
- Preventing surgical site infections; and
- Preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Christina Granato, R.N., M.S., F.N.P., C.N.S., Professor of Nursing at Onondaga Community College, said, "These videos emphasize safe care in specific areas of nursing practice, provoke discussion and actively engage students in the learning process. Clearly, these videos are a valuable and welcome addition to our nursing classrooms, helping us prepare the caregivers of tomorrow."

The project was supported by contributions from the New York State Assembly, New York State Department of Health, IPRO, Medical Society of the State of New York, and New York State Nurses Association.

"The IHI Campaign was a great example of what can be achieved through a collaborative focus on improving care," Mr. Sisto said.

The following New York health organizations contributed their time, talent, and expertise to make this series possible:

- Albany Medical Center
- Benedictine Hospital (Kingston)
- Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca
- New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation-Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center and Bellevue Hospital Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System-Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical Center (New York City)
- North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System-Franklin Hospital, Forest Hills Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and University Hospital at Manhasset
- Rochester Regional Healthcare Association
- Seton Health-Ascension Health (Troy)
- St. Joseph Hospital-Catholic Health System (Buffalo)
- Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester Medical Center

The Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) is the only statewide hospital and continuing care association in New York State, representing more than 550 non-profit and public hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies, and other health care organizations.

http://www.hanys.org