Category: Patient Safety and Quality

Trinity Health Michigan Team Members Recognized with MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

The Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) Keystone Center recognized Camryn Smith and Alicia Evans, medical assistants at Trinity Health IHA Medical Group, as its quarterly MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award recipients.

Camryn Smith and Alicia Evans, medical assistants at Trinity Health IHA Medical Group, at the MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award presentation.

The Speak-up! Award honors individuals or teams in Michigan hospitals who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to preventing harm to patients or staff. Smith and Evans were recognized for speaking up – and jumping into action – after Smith detected an abnormal blood pressure reading while performing a stitch removal.

“Some of the most powerful acts of courage and leadership come from those early in their career,” said MHA CEO Brian Peters. “The work of the Trinity Health IHA Medical Group team is a strong reminder that every voice matters when it comes to enhancing patient safety. It also underlines the importance of establishing a culture where speaking up is encouraged and supported.”

Upon realizing the patient’s blood pressure results seemed inconsistent using automated equipment, Evans, a medical assistant intern at the time, asked Smith for assistance with a manual pulse check. The two soon learned that the patient’s heart rate was dangerously low and promptly notified an attending provider to further assess the situation.

It was discovered through an electrocardiogram (EKG) that the patient was experiencing an episode of atrial fibrillation (AFib). As a result of Smith and Evans’ prompt attention to detail, the individual was safely transferred to the emergency department for further treatment.

“Camryn and Alicia listened to their instincts and worked together to ensure timely, lifesaving intervention,” said Cindy Elliott, president of Trinity Health Michigan Medical Groups. “Stories like this reinforce our mission and commitment to delivering safe, exceptional care.”

More information about the MHA Keystone Center Speak-up! Award, including criteria and a nomination form, is available online.

Keystone Quality and Safety Dashboard Provides At-a-Glance Insights

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

The MHA Keystone Center recently rolled out its Quality and Safety Dashboard, a resource that helps Michigan hospitals monitor performance, identify improvement opportunities and reduce patient harm. The dashboard provides an at-a-glance view of performance across key patient safety and quality metrics, supporting data-driven decision-making at both the hospital and health system levels.

The dashboard brings together multiple trusted data sources, including hospital administrative claims, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network infection data, maternal health indicators related to severe maternal morbidity, and select Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Patient Safety Patient Safety Indicators focused on potentially preventable in‑hospital complications.

Clinicians can use the dashboard to understand variation in outcomes, support quality improvement initiatives and inform care team discussions. Healthcare leaders can use the tool to monitor performance trends, identify organizational risk and align systemwide quality priorities.

To learn more about how to use this resource, members are encouraged to attend one of the following Keystone Quality and Safety introduction sessions:

Access to the dashboard is available through a KeyMetrics account. Members can receive assistance with account setup or dashboard navigation by contacting the MHA Keystone Center.

 

Council Workgroups Advance Care Delivery Strategies

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

The MHA Council on Health Access and Community Impact, established in June 2024, brings together voices from across the MHA membership to advance a shared commitment to improving healthcare and health outcomes. Over the past year, the council has transitioned from defining its scope and purpose to launching work that supports meaningful, systemwide change.

This shift led to the formation of workgroups aligned with key drivers of care delivery transformation, a priority in the MHA 2025-26 Strategic Action Plan. Collectively, the council and its workgroups aim to advance strategies that optimize operations across access, quality improvement, patient experience, community alliance and care integration.

Shared Focus, Clear Direction

Central to this work is a commitment to delivering safe, high-quality and reliable care to every patient, regardless of circumstance.

The council also recognizes that meaningful transformation requires moving beyond traditional clinical models. Integrated care must address the full range of factors shaping health, including social, structural, behavioral and clinical conditions, while elevating community voice and advancing population‑level impact.

Workgroup Purpose and Progress Highlights

Driven by this focus, the council workgroups share common objectives:

  • Develop practical roadmaps and tools for scalable implementation across member hospitals.
  • Outline approaches for integrating and operationalizing best practices.
  • Advance recommendations for statewide adoption to be presented to the MHA Board of Trustees.

Three workgroups are currently active and meet monthly. Highlights include:

  • Quality Improvement (QI): Members of the workgroup conducted stakeholder and subject-matter expert interviews with national, state and academic QI leaders. Insights from these conversations informed the development of a draft blueprint and implementation framework to guide statewide and hospital‑level QI initiatives, with an intentional focus on addressing persistent gaps in outcomes and advancing quality.
  • Patient Experience and Community Alliance: This workgroup is developing a framework that expands the patient journey beyond clinical encounters to strengthen partnerships with patients and communities by aligning engagement and communication strategies with lived experience and local context.
  • Care Integration: The workgroup is identifying gaps in how clinical and social care are operationalized across health systems, including staffing, IT infrastructure, policies and workflows, while informing scalable best practices and alignment across the state.

Looking Ahead

As the council and workgroups move forward, the focus remains on scalable solutions that advance care delivery transformation while centering community partnership and measurable impact.

Members with questions about the council’s work may contact Ewa Panetta at the MHA.

IMLC Bill Protects Healthcare Access

Issues in Healthcare, Top Issues - Healthcare, News Releases, Patient Safety and Quality

The following statement can be attributed to Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association. 

The MHA thanks state lawmakers for reaching a deal on the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. Leadership in both chambers identified and prioritized protecting Michigan patients and preserving care in our communities. We’re eager to see this important piece of legislation advance to Gov. Whitmer and look forward to her swift signature.

The Compact streamlines the licensing process for qualified physicians, strengthening Michigan’s ability to recruit top talent and fill critical staffing gaps more quickly, while maintaining strong patient safety standards and regulatory oversight.

For many hospitals, especially those serving rural or border communities, the Compact supports access to care in high-demand specialties such as emergency medicine, psychiatry, obstetrics and primary care. We appreciate the legislature’s commitment to preserving a tool that enhances workforce flexibility and protects access to timely care.

2025 Michigan Caregiver Navigation Toolkit Available

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

In alignment with National Caregiver Month, the MHA Keystone Center recently created the 2025 Michigan Caregiver Navigation Toolkit to support hospitals in their efforts to initiate and enhance caregiver support programming across the state.

The toolkit allows users to assess current structures to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement in caregiver support. It also provides guidance to create actionable plans for program development and expansion.

Members are encouraged to share the toolkit and accompanying modules with appropriate parties within their organization.

Printed copies of the toolkit are available upon request.

Members with questions may reach out to Joshua Suire at the MHA Keystone Center.

MHA Keystone Center PSO Hosts Virtual Care Safe Table

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

Registration is open for the MHA Keystone Center Patient Safety Organization (PSO) Virtual Care Safe Table in partnership with Henry Ford Health. The event will take place from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Dec. 3 at the MHA Headquarters in Okemos.

The safe table will introduce virtual care in the healthcare setting and discuss how organizations can use this model to support patient safety through proactive monitoring and early identification of patient deterioration, which can lead to faster clinical interventions and help reduce code blue events. The session will also highlight how virtual care can support bedside teams by completing tasks such as documentation and patient education, allowing in-person staff to remain focused on direct patient care. Examples of improved efficiency and care coordination will be shared throughout the discussion.

At the end of the program, attendees will be able to:

  • Identify opportunities to leverage virtual care to improve healthcare quality and safety.
  • Understand how to coordinate with IT teams to protect data during virtual care activities.
  • Describe methods to maintain safety and quality standards in both in-person and virtual settings.
  • Develop and sustain standardized nursing workflows for virtual care that align with organizational needs.

The safe table is free of charge for MHA Keystone PSO members and lunch is provided.

Chief quality officers, chief safety officers, chief nursing officers, chief medical officers, vice presidents of quality, safety and risk, vice presidents of clinical transformation, directors of quality improvement and directors or managers of patient safety and performance improvement are encouraged to register.

Nursing education credits are being pursued.

Members with questions may contact the MHA Keystone Center PSO.

MHA Keystone Board Reviews Workplace Violence Prevention and Maternal Health Efforts

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

The MHA Keystone Board of Directors met Nov. 12 to review ongoing work to improve safety and quality across member organizations. The meeting opened with a connect-to-purpose story shared by Keystone Board Chair Doug Dascenzo, DNP, RN, CENP, vice president of nursing operations, Henry Ford Health, which reinforced Keystone’s focus on preventing workplace violence.

The board discussed strategies to address violence in healthcare settings, including clinics and off-site locations. Members reviewed efforts to strengthen policies, training and coordinated approaches that support safer environments for healthcare workers. The discussion emphasized that workplace violence affects staff well-being, patient safety and overall organizational performance.

The board also reviewed maternal health priorities, including the MI AIM program and the framework for maternal levels of care. The overview highlighted how levels of care categorize facilities based on their ability to provide specialized maternal services, ensuring that patients receive appropriate care tailored to their clinical needs.

The board will receive a detailed presentation on Keystone initiatives related to maternal health at a future meeting. The presentation will outline opportunities for board support in advancing work to improve maternal and infant care.

The meeting reaffirmed Keystone’s commitment to addressing critical safety and quality issues through collaborative leadership and continuous improvement.

Members with questions may contact Amy Brown at the MHA.

MHA Keystone Center Annual Report Highlights Safety and Quality Initiatives

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

The MHA Keystone Center recently released its 2024-25 annual report, which demonstrates Michigan hospitals’ commitment to improving outcomes and advancing care. The report highlights MHA Keystone Center-led safety and quality initiatives, including:

  • A five-year collaboration with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) through Superior Health Quality Alliance, resulting in 268,656 harms avoided, a $1.02B return on investment and a 20% relative improvement rate in hospital readmissions.
  • A partnership with Lawrence Technological University to create the Healthcare Violence Reduction Center to research solutions to healthcare workplace violence.
  • The return of the MHA Keystone Center Safety & Quality Symposium, where more than 100 healthcare professionals convened to share strategies for advancing workforce resilience and patient well-being.

Printed copies are available upon request.

Members with questions about the report should contact the MHA Keystone Center.

Superior Health Recruiting Hospitals, Clinics and Nursing Homes for Quality Improvement Assistance Program

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

The Superior Health Quality Alliance – a coalition of eight Midwest healthcare quality improvement organizations, including the MHA Keystone Center – is actively recruiting participants for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 13th Scope of Work.

As the CMS Quality Innovation Network – Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) for the Great Lakes Region, Superior Health will provide no-cost technical assistance to eligible providers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. This includes support for chronic disease management, behavioral health integration, patient safety, care coordination and healthcare quality — all aligned with CMS national goals.

Superior Health serves as the bridge between the important goals of the CMS and the unique needs of local communities. Drawing on decades of experience, Superior Health is dedicated to supporting clinics, nursing homes and hospitals by providing premium, hands-on quality improvement assistance to help achieve healthcare quality and safety goals for Medicare beneficiaries.

To access this assistance, complete the enrollment form to begin the enrollment process or reach out to Superior Health for more information.

Strengthening Health Literacy Through Better Communication

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality, MHA Rounds

Byline: Gary L. Roth, DO, Chief Medical Officer, MHA

In healthcare, words can be as powerful as medicine. A patient’s ability to understand their diagnosis, treatment options or discharge instructions can directly influence their recovery and long-term health. Yet too often, communication between clinical experts and patients is clouded by medical jargon, complex explanations or information overload. Improving how we talk about health both within hospitals, in the clinic, and across our communities is a matter of safety, trust and access to care.

As October draws to a close, Health Literacy Month serves as a vital reminder that clear communication is a cornerstone of safe, high-quality care throughout Michigan’s healthcare community.

Understanding the Health Literacy Gap

Health literacy refers to a person’s ability to find, understand and use health information to make informed decisions. According to national data, nearly nine in 10 adults struggle to fully comprehend medical information shared by providers, prescription labels or public health materials. This gap leads to serious consequences: missed appointments, medication errors, preventable hospitalizations and poorer overall health outcomes.

Clinicians and health organizations tend to use technical language, while patients experience healthcare through a lens shaped by anxiety, uncertainty and varying levels of understanding. When information isn’t communicated clearly, patients and their family may nod in agreement without truly understanding, leaving them at risk once they leave the clinic or hospital.

Making Health Information Easier to Understand

Effective external communication from providers bridges the gap between the clinical world and the public. It translates complex health information into language that is clear, accurate and compassionate. As digital tools and online platforms become more common in care delivery, hospitals and healthcare systems are also rethinking how to present health information in accessible, user-friendly formats that meet patients where they are. Whether through hospital websites, community health campaigns, or discharge instructions and summaries, the goal should always be the same: ensure patients and families can understand what they need to do and why it matters.

Plain language, visuals and real-world examples can make health information easier to understand. Testing materials with actual patients before publication can also reveal confusing wording or gaps. Improving health literacy should not just be the patient’s job. Health systems, clinicians, communicators and policymakers all have a role to play in making information accessible. Statewide initiatives, including resources from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan State Medical Society, are helping healthcare professionals strengthen health literacy skills and better support patients and families across care settings. Investing in education for health professionals on plain language communication and effective patient engagement will make a difference.

Strengthening Community Health Through Understanding

When patients understand their care, they are more likely to follow treatment plans, ask informed questions and take ownership of their health. When families are also engaged, they can more effectively support the patient. Effective communication builds trust, and trust builds healthier communities.

Across Michigan, hospitals are taking proactive steps to advance health literacy by simplifying patient materials, redesigning discharge instructions and training staff in clear communication techniques. These efforts reflect MHA members’ shared commitment to building understanding as the foundation of safe, high-quality care.

In healthcare, clear communication isn’t just good practice. It’s good medicine.