Patient Safety Officer
Patient Safety Officer (PSO)
The Patient Safety Officer (PSO) has primary oversight of the facility-wide patient safety program. This leadership role directs staff within the organization toward process improvements that support the reduction of medical/health care errors and other factors that contribute to unintended adverse patient outcomes. In addition, the Patient Safety Officer:
- provides oversight/leadership for safety assessments, coordinates activities of patient safety and quality and provides ongoing education to staff.
- works closely with members of the Quality department, the Risk Manager, the Care Enhancement Team, Infection Control and the Safety and Security Officer in order to ensure a safe environment for our patients and staff.
- Serves as the leader for the Quality Task Force, as part of the 3 year HAHV strategic plan. The Critical Event Response Team is co-chaired by the Patient Safety Officer, and the Risk Manager.
- collaborates with the Quality Department as well as with the Chief Medical Officer to ensure that organizational wide safety and quality initiatives are rolled out effectively and risk reduction strategies implemented wherever appropriate while engaging stakeholders in the process.
- coordinates the activities of the Care Enhancement Team and engages key stakeholders in the process of spreading successful improvements across the organization. Part of the process includes reinforcing a “just culture” and an environment that supports staff and encourages them to help identify and report errors and “near Misses.”
- collaborates with the Risk Manager, Infection Control Officer, the Safety and Security Officer and CET to perform comprehensive and coordinated risk assessments for new services, and construction projects throughout the organization.
Patient Safety Concern Line
(845) 334-3000
The concern line allows physicians and employees to anonymously share a patient safety concern, or if the doctor or employee wishes to discuss their concern, the individual can leave their name and telephone number. The Patient Safety Officer will return their call. In addition, every concern is reviewed and addressed.
Critical Event Response Team (CERT):
The Margaretville Hospital Quality Improvement Director and the Patient Safety Officer participate and collaborate with the HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley Critical Event Response Team to address issues related to patient care and safety whenever necessary. Lessons learned are shared with the Margaretville Hospital staff as part of the continuous proactive effort to minimize adverse events and enhance patient safety and quality of care.
The Critical Event Response Team is comprised of an over-site committee made of up of the co-chairs of the Critical Event Response Team, along with medical staff and members of leadership to drive the continued improvement of patient safety at HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley. The over-site committee maintains an active role in championing a culture of safety for all patients and staff, allowing the proactive assessment and reporting of potential or actual patient safety issues without fear of retribution or blame. The daily work of Critical Event Response Team is overseen by a working team, lead by the Co-chairs, with membership derived positionally and representative of the system’s health care team.
Critical Event Response Team meets regularly to manage response to events, coordinate reporting to the regulatory agencies, review events, recommend the implementation and allocation of resources necessary to achieve the objectives of identified risk reduction strategies and receive, review and further recommend risk reduction efforts identified through FMEA. Lessons learned are carefully shared throughout the organization. In order to assure the integrity of thorough and credible analysis of a patient safety event the activities of Critical Event Response Team are confidential.
Critical Event Response Team members include:
- Chief Operations Officer – Executive sponsor
- Patient Safety Officer, Co-Chair
- Risk Manager, Co-Chair
- Chief Medical Officer
- Chief Administrative Officer
- Chief Nursing Officer
- President of Medical Staff (BH) – Ad Hoc
- President of Medical Staff (TKH) – Ad Hoc
- VP of Quality and Performance Improvement
- VP of Nursing
- VP of Human Resources
- VP of Ambulatory Services
- VP of Support Services
- Corporate Compliance Officer
- Director of Medical Staff Services
- Director of Mental Health
- Director of Radiology
- Nurse Educator
- HAHV Quality and Performance Improvement
