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.

Michelle Thomas, CT technologist, Diagnostic Imaging, was recognized for attention to detail and escalating concerns. While scanning an outpatient for a follow-up aortic aneurysm study, Thomas saw an ascending aortic dissection. After comparing the scan to the patient’s prior images, she realized this was a new Type A dissection, which can be life-threatening. Thomas immediately notified the cardiac radiologists, who contacted the ordering provider. The patient was admitted to the Cardiothoracic ICU. After being treated in the unit, the patient was safely discharged home.

Cheryl Handy, patient representative, Patient Relations, was recognized for attention to detail, 200% accountability and escalating concerns. Handy received a call from a patient who was boarding in an Emergency Department hallway. The patient asked how long she had to wait for an inpatient room. In reviewing the patient’s chart, Handy saw that she was an immunocompromised oncology patient. With no inpatient beds available, Handy persisted in escalating her concerns. When an ED bed became available, the patient was moved to a single room in the ED.