Great Catch winners help YNHH become a high reliability organization

Congratulations to these Great Catch winners for modeling HRO safety behaviors and taking action to improve patient safety.

Bishme Sheppard (left) and Raymond Amendola

Raymond Amendola, senior manager, Heart and Vascular Center; James Dempsey, security supervisor, Protective Services; and Propark employee Bishme Sheppard were recognized for attention to detail and 200% accountability by helping to thwart an attempted suicide from the George Street Garage. While in the garage, Amendola saw a woman sitting on the fifth-floor ledge with her legs dangling over the side. Sheppard had been talking with her for hours to keep her from jumping, but couldn’t call for help because the woman insisted he drop his phone. Amendola alerted Protective Services and Dempsey responded. Amendola, Dempsey and Sheppard worked with the New Haven Police and Fire departments to coax the woman off the ledge.

Syed Gilani, MD, assistant professor of cytopathology, Yale School of Medicine, was recognized for attention to detail and practicing a questioning attitude when he suspected a specimen labeling error. While reviewing two patients’ samples, Dr. Gilani noted that cellular characteristics of the two specimens looked similar, even though they were labeled as coming from two separate patients. He stopped the line and presented the case for review with his colleagues. Dr. Gilani activated DNA testing which showed that the specimens had been mislabeled. The microscope slides were corrected, preventing a misdiagnosis.