Rogers continues to make strides in improving patient safety
02/15/24 12:30:pm
While Patient Safety Awareness Week is coming up in March, it’s a focus Rogers keeps year-round, resulting in expanded emergency response teams and new communication tools to come.
“Patient safety should always be at the forefront,” says Pat Lewis, director of Patient Safety.
Initiated to create a structured plan for safely managing a behavioral crisis and reducing risk of harm, the Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) is now at all three Wisconsin campuses and in all levels of care.
Begun last summer through voluntary trainings, BERT was rolled out to Brown Deer, then West Allis, and lastly Oconomowoc in November.
“We are grateful for the wide range of employees who have volunteered to be a member of BERT,” Pat says. “We have about 15 employees who are trained at each campus to handle a patient crisis before it becomes a code, and we will continue to offer trainings.”
Currently, BERT doesn’t exist for the night shift from 11 pm to 7 am when there typically aren’t patient codes. Pat says he and his team are looking for ways to support employees on that shift.
Additionally, Rogers is implementing a new communication device expected to be rolled at the end of February. Called Relay Pro, the tool is like an advanced walkie-talkie that will first go to members of BERT and then all patient-facing employees. It will help employees communicate more effectively and efficiently with options to communicate to individuals or groups and call codes.
If you’re interested in becoming a member of BERT, talk with your manager who will notify Pat.
Patient Safety Awareness Week, a national education campaign intended to encourage everyone to learn more about healthcare safety, takes place this year from March 10 to 16.
Formed in 2017, the Patient Safety department’s mission is to support, encourage, and enhance employee skills for team collaboration, unified safety, and exceptional patient care.
