A had a chance to meet Ms.Sorrel King and her efforts towards Medical care safety and to improve patient safety.
On February 22, 2001, eighteen-month-old Josie King died from medical errors.
More than 250,00 people die every year from medical errors, making it the third leading cause of death in the United States.
The Josie King Foundation’s mission is to prevent patients from dying or being harmed by medical errors. By uniting healthcare providers and consumers, and funding innovative safety programs, we hope to create a culture of patient safety, together.
Josie King Patient Safety Program
The Josie King Pediatric Patient Safety Program at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center is a first in many senses of the word. It was the first patient safety initiative funded by the Josie King Foundation in partnership with Johns Hopkins; the first formal program the Johns Hopkins Hospital used to improve patient safety after Josie’s death, and the first of its kind in the country.
Data and documentation drove the program as the basis of quality improvement. The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and the Children’s Medical-Surgical Center (CMSC6) staff participated in a ten-question cultural survey to gain a sense of their perception of the safety culture. Using these results, the staff were educated in the science of safety.
The staff were asked for their input. Specifically, where they felt problems may arise and how the institution could best prevent them. Senior management was involved to encourage staff to freely raise concerns; provide rapid and meaningful feedback; and develop trust between patients and staff. The staff recommended resource allocations to foster effective solutions to problems they foresaw. The Josie King Pediatric Patient Safety Program provided the PICU, CMSC6, senior management, their departments and other units with a means to increase accountability in order to improve the prevention of harm. Both patients and staff were able to see and understand the subtle changes that create significant improvements in their well-being.
The Josie King Program has grown, it has become a part of the culture of safety for both patients and staff. The Program has been a prototype for children’s hospitals throughout the United States. By remaining mindful that safety work is never-ending, The Josie King Pediatric Patient Safety Program provides lasting and meaningful change to ensure better patient care.