Category: Patient Safety and Quality

Safe Table to Focus on Medication Safety in Rural Hospitals

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality, Rural Health Updates

The MHA Keystone Center Patient Safety Organization (PSO) will host an in-person Safe Table on May 28 at Mackinac Straits Hospital in St. Ignace. The session will focus on strategies to prevent medication errors in rural care settings.

Rural hospitals often face unique challenges, including limited resources and infrequent exposure to high-risk clinical situations. The discussion will examine how reliance on individual vigilance can increase safety risks and highlight system-level strategies to improve medication safety before harm occurs.

The Safe Table will be led by John Wininger, PharmD, BCSCP, director of pharmacy, Mackinac Straits Health System. Attendance is limited to encourage meaningful discussion. Registration is free for MHA Keystone Center PSO members.

Continuing education credits are being pursued for this event. Additional details on available credit types and instructions for claiming credit will be shared once accreditation is confirmed.

The MHA Keystone Center PSO is also seeking speakers for future Safe Table events. Members with innovative approaches, best practices or lessons learned are encouraged to apply. Members seeking more information about participating or serving as a speaker may contact Clarence Rucker IV at the MHA Keystone Center.

Keystone Board Advances Safety Priorities, Plans Upcoming Work

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

The MHA Keystone Center Board of Directors met April 8 to discuss safety and quality priorities, review governance actions and plan for the upcoming program year.

Brook Watts, MD, chief quality officer, Michigan Medicine, presented during a “Connect to Purpose” segment on how small process changes led to measurable gains in patient satisfaction within an academic health system. The example reinforced Keystone’s focus on actionable, frontline improvement.

The board reviewed appointments to the MHA Keystone Center Board, supporting continued evolution of its composition and expertise. The board also discussed emerging priorities for the 2026-27 program year, including planning for the MHA Keystone Center Safety & Quality Symposium, scheduled for fall 2026, focused on workplace safety.

In addition, the board confirmed details for the 2026 Keystone Board Retreat scheduled for June and received an update on Superior Health.

Members with questions may contact Amy Brown at the MHA.

MHA Keystone Center Pilot Reduces Caregiver Strain

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

The MHA Keystone Center, in partnership with the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, released findings from a two-year pilot since implementing the Michigan Caregiver Navigation Toolkit in acute care settings. Results show reductions in caregiver strain and stronger caregiver support infrastructure across two Michigan health systems. Both organizations implemented the toolkit and conducted annual gap analyses to identify workflow gaps, set priorities and integrate caregiver support practices.

The MHA Keystone Center released two KeyLearnings modules to support implementation of the toolkit. The Michigan Caregiver Navigation Toolkit Module guides hospital teams through each section of the toolkit, while the Identifying, Understanding and Communicating the Role of Caregivers Module highlights the physical and emotional impact of caregiving and the importance of timely education, communication and resource support.

Caregiver Burnout as a Quality, Safety Concern

The pilot focused on reducing physical and emotional challenges for individuals caring for friends, neighbors or family members with complex health needs. Lower caregiver strain can lead to more timely support, fewer complications and reduced reliance on high-acuity services. Strengthening caregiver resilience supports improved patient outcomes and safety.

Pilot Sites Demonstrate Improvements

One pilot site reassessed 113 unpaid caregivers two months after initial evaluation and reported improvements across indicators. This includes:

  • Caregiver Intensity Index decreased by 54%
  • Mental health impact decreased by 46%
  • Stress-related drivers decreased by 70%
  • Stress-buffering supports increased by 19%

Caregiver intensity levels also shifted:

  • High-intensity cases decreased from 21 to 1
  • Moderate-intensity cases decreased from 84 to 10
  • Low-intensity cases increased from 8 to 50

These results indicate fewer caregivers remained in high-risk categories after receiving structured support from admission through two months post-discharge.

Guided by the MHA Keystone Center, both health systems implemented core toolkit components, including staff engagement, standardized assessments, community partnerships, communication strategies and sustainability planning. Staffing offsets supported participation in assessments and improvement activities. An online learning module was developed to expand statewide access and is available to members at no cost, along with the toolkit.

Key Takeaways for Quality and Safety Leaders

The pilot offers insights for leaders focused on reducing harm and improving system reliability, including:

  • Reducing caregiver strain supports patient safety by decreasing delays, complications and avoidable utilization
  • Annual gap analyses help identify deficiencies and guide targeted improvements
  • Standardized workflows, education tools and assessments support consistent caregiver practices
  • The model provides a practical path to reduce caregiver-related safety risks and improve outcomes

Members with questions may contact Joshua Suire at the MHA Keystone Center.

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

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

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

Patient Safety and Quality, Member News

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.