UW Medicine joins national campaign to improve patient safety in hospitals

UW Medical Center (UWMC) and Harborview Medical Center, the two hospitals of UW Medicine, are joining a national campaign to continue to improve patient safety.

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement, a collaborative effort of thousands of health-care providers, has launched the 100,000 Lives Campaign. The campaign aims to enlist thousands of hospitals across the country in a commitment to implement changes that have been shown to enhance patient safety and prevent avoidable deaths.

The Institute of Medicine estimates that as many as 98,000 people die each year in U.S. hospitals due to medical injuries.

UWMC recently launched its Center for Clinical Excellence, which integrates resources, data, and expertise to improve quality and patient safety throughout the hospital. The Center will be responsible for making sure that UWMC meets and exceeds performance standards for patient safety.

The Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA), American Medical Association (AMA), the American Nurses Association (ANA), and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) have all endorsed the campaign.