Safety First . . .

Abstract

As the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) strives to become the safest children’s hospital by 2015, CHOP Home Care has worked to set the standard for pediatric home care by introducing innovative practices that support patient safety. We have made the culture of safety a core and embodied value among our clinical and nonclinical staff, and challenge ourselves to become the safest pediatric Home Care provider. Through continual quality improvement efforts, we have embedded safe and novel practices into our department-wide Patient Safety Program, our infection prevention programs, our chronic disease management initiatives, a medication reconciliation initiative, and our handoff and transition activities. The success of our quality improvement programs is indicated by improved patient outcomes and professional association recognition.