Transparency is Critical for Safe Quality Patient Care

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA

Paul Levy, CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston is determined to eliminate preventable harm to patients by increasing transparency.

Documented on the BIDMC’s website, a list of hospital wide measures including infections, hand hygiene and nursing care are highlighted.  Keeping track of central line infections, hand hygiene, pressure ulcers and falls, Levy is determined to eliminate preventable harm to patients.

Aggressive goals have been set at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, “…our goal is to have zero infections, and we’re pretty close to that …” says Levy in his interview with Dr. Val Jones, CEO of Better Health.

Through transparency, Levy’s bold move is shifting the medical center in the right direction.

The main purpose of transparency says Levy,

“Is to hold the organization accountable to a very high standard that we’ve set for ourselves.  Transparency is not about competition with other hospitals, it’s not about finding fault or blame, but unless you have an audacious goal like zero central line infections, you’ll never really get as far as you can go.”

Levy’s blog, Running a hospital, deals with the issues facing a major medical center.

Videos

Paul Levy, President & CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, discusses his innovative and bold approach to keeping patients aware of the safety record of his hospital.  Dr. Val Jones produced the 3-part video series.