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.

Karen Ahern, RN, Endoscopy, Shoreline Medical Center, was recognized for attention to detail and escalating concerns. During a post-operative patient call from the previous day’s procedures, a patient told Ahern she had experienced abdominal pain throughout the night but was now feeling better. That activated Ahern’s “internal smoke detector,” prompting her to ask additional questions. Ahern urged the patient to go directly to the Emergency Department and escalated her concerns to the provider. An X-ray in the ED revealed a life-threatening complication, and the patient was immediately taken to the OR.   

Jack Sweeney, RN, Neuroscience ICU, was recognized for attention to detail, 200% accountability and escalating concerns. Noticing that his post-operative patient appeared confused and sleepier than normal, Sweeney expressed his concerns to the team and recommended an emergency CT scan. The scan showed new findings and the patient was taken to the operating room for an emergency procedure that saved his life.