St. Mary’s was one of 61 Missouri hospitals that were listed by IHI as being fully committed to the 5 Million Lives campaign.

            “Safety is our top priority,” said Deb Wriedt, St. Mary’s administrative director of performance and patient safety. “This international initiative gave us added resources and the ability to learn from other successful organizations.”

            Hospitals statewide participated in the patient safety program. To be listed by the IHI as fully committed, a hospital had to submit monthly mortality data and implement at least one or more of the campaign improvement initiatives:

·         deploy rapid response teams

·         deliver reliable, evidence-based care for acute myocardial infarction

·         prevent adverse drug events

·         prevent central-line infections

·         prevent surgical-site infections

·         prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia

·         reduce surgical complications

·         prevent pressure ulcers

·         reduce MRSA infection

·         deliver reliable, evidence-based care for congestive heart failure

 St. Mary’s overall compliance rating in heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical-site improvement is in the top one percent of hospitals in the U.S. In addition to the 5 Million Lives campaign, St. Mary’s participates in an Always Safe initiative with a focus on care, commitment and communication to bolster patient safety.   

Many of the hospitals who participated in the 5 Million Lives carried forward the work of  IHI’s Saving 100,000 Lives campaign, which began in December 2005. 

            IHI activities are coordinated through statewide agencies. In Missouri, the Missouri Hospital Association, Missouri Center for Patient Safety and Primaris coordinated state activities.

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