patient safety
To improve patient safety, patients, employees and visitors are encouraged to alert an OLBH staff member of any potential patient safety issues. Safety suggestions are welcomed.
To report an observation or suggestion, contact the OLBH patient safety hotline at 606-833-3551. The patient safety officer can be paged by calling 606-920-6009. Please provide as much detail about the safety issue as possible.
fall prevention
A goal at OLBH is to identify patients at risk for falls and institute preventative measures to reduce possible injury to patients. Hospital staff work together to evaluate and minimize occurrences of patient falls. A patient safety/fall risk assessment is completed upon admission, every 12 hours, when a patient is transferred, or if there is a change in patient status. Patients identified as being at high risk for falls will have orange dots on their patient identification bracelets and will be given red, non-skid socks to wear. Patients are encouraged to use the call light system to notify caregivers if they need help or assistance to the restrooms.
help yourself become well - become actively involved in your care
The reasons for hospitalization vary, but an important aspect of improving a patient's health is for the patient to become an active participant in the health care process. Patients can do this by increasing their level of knowledge about their conditions and by asking questions that will allow for better understand of illness and treatment. Patients should talk with their physicians or nurses and ask questions for better understanding and additional information. While in the hospital, patients may be asked to do the following:
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Inform their physicians and nursing staff of all medication they are taking - both prescription and over-the-counter. (Examples include, but are not limited to, Tylenol, Advil, aspirin, vitamins, herbal remedies, etc.)
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After surgery, as conditions allow, a patient may be asked to assist in performing activities designed to improve circulation, clear the lungs and decrease the risk of pneumonia. These activities might include deep breathing, coughing, changing positions in bed or walking.
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Increase activity as physician and condition allow.
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Learn how to continue certain treatments following discharge.
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Become a nonsmoker. A patient can speak to a physician or nurse for information on quitting tobacco.
Call 606-833-3551 to report any safety issues.
medical emergency team (MET Team)
Anyone can call the MET Team!
OLBH has a Medical Emergency Team (MET) in place 24 hours a day. When a patient has a sudden change in condition that requires early intervention, call the MET team into action! The MET Team consists of the following: RN on the floor caring for the patient, patient's physician, nursing supervision, respiratory therapist, and an ICU nurse.
To activate the MET team, dial "0" and request the MET team to room ____, or quickly contact your care giver. The physician is immediately contacted by phone or beeper. The team will respond rapidly to begin treatment. The goal of the MET team is to improve quality patient care and decrease the number of code blues. Anyone can call the MET Team into action.
For more information, call the OLBH patient safety hotline at 606-833-3551.
national patient safety goals
OLBH is committed to patient safety. The hospital adheres to the National Patient Safety Goals as listed by the Joint Commission. To report a patient safety issue, call the safety officer at 606-833-3551.
The hospital also provides a crisis hotline to individuals and their family members. The hotline can be reached at 606-833-3555.
2010 patient safety goals
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Improve the accuracy of patient identification
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Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers
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Improve the safety of using medications
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Reduce the risk of health care associated infections
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Accurately and completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care
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Reduce the risk of patient harm resulting from falls
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Encourage patients' active involvement in their own care as a patient safety strategy
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The organization identifies safety risks inherent in its patient population
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Improve recognition and response to changes in a patient's condition
