WASHINGTON, DC, May 22, 2009 – The National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) today presented the 2009 Stand Up for Patient Safety Management Award to Mariners Hospital, an affiliate of Baptist Health South Florida.

“The Stand Up for Patient Safety Management Award is granted to a member hospital of the NPSF Stand Up for Patient Safety program in recognition of an initiative, supported by leadership at all levels and embraced by a cross-discipline team, that delivers proven, life-saving change,” said Diane C. Pinakiewicz, President of the National Patient Safety Foundation. “The team at Mariners Hospital is most deserving of this recognition for their remarkable work.”

The team at Mariners understood that with the more frequent use of CT scans as a primary diagnostic tool, growing patient populations were at risk for the development of contrast-induced nephropathy. Mariners formed a multi-disciplinary team to implement a set of safety measures to identify high-risk patients. This important effort included the use of assessment forms to identify risk factors for all patient populations, increased communication among pharmacists, CT technologists, radiologists, and referring physicians, a more thorough checks and balance system, and stricter protocols for pre- and post-IV administration.

By performing a multi-dimensional assessment for risk factors, Mariners Hospital made significant strides in reducing risk and improving overall patient safety levels. The exceptional collaboration demonstrated by this committed team has had a direct impact on patient care and safety.

Over the past 29 months, Mariners identified 170 patients with an increased risk of developing this potentially fatal complication, and the program also aided in the identification of nine patients in stage 4 of chronic kidney disease and three patients in stage 5.

“This remarkable success story clearly demonstrates the power of committed management and staff to create change, and the value of collaboration across an organization to identify and reduce patient risk,” noted Ms. Pinakiewicz.

The NPSF Stand Up for Patient Safety Management Award was presented to Mariners Hospital at the 2009 NPSF Patient Safety Congress in Washington, DC, and was accepted by Francene Glick, Director of Imaging Services, and Deborah Barrow, Director of Pharmacy.

 About Mariners Hospital

Mariners Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest not-for-profit healthcare organization in South Florida, is a 42-bed, community hospital located in Tavernier, Florida.  Each year almost every family in our community and many visitors to the Upper Keys are touched by one or more of the 70 staff physicians and 250 employees who provide a range of medical care services.

About the National Patient Safety Foundation

The National Patient Safety Foundation® is an independent not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that has been diligently pursuing one mission since its founding in 1997 – to improve the safety of the healthcare system for the patients and families it serves. NPSF is unwavering in its determined and committed focus on uniting disciplines and organizations across the continuum of care, championing a collaborative, inclusive, multi-stakeholder approach.