Fla. initiative seeks to boost quality, reduce adverse events

A newly launched collaborative initiative aims to improve the quality of surgical care and reduce adverse events in Florida hospitals and surgery centers.

In an announcement delivered at the National Patient Safety Foundation's Annual Patient Safety Congress in Orlando, the Florida Hospital Association and the Florida chapter of the American College of Surgeons announced they have teamed up to create the Florida Surgical Care Initiative.

The initiative will focus on issues such as regional disparities in cost and quality and will lead efforts to reduce rates of surgical site and urinary tract infections, the organizations said in a joint release. The program will also focus on improving the outcome for colorectal surgeries and for surgeries on elderly patients.

“Quality care is a core value for our hospitals and surgeons, but complications still occur,” Bruce Rueben, president of the FHA, said in the release. “In the course of health reform discussions, Florida's commitment to high quality, affordable care was challenged by other states. By working together, we'll be able to significantly improve care, prevent complications, reduce costs and demonstrate to the nation that Florida is a leader in quality healthcare.”

The effort is funded in part by a grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida.