Abbeville Area Medical Center Wins Zero Harm Awards for Commitment to Eliminating Medical Errors
The South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA) has recognized Abbeville Area Medical Center (AAMC) for its tremendous efforts eliminating medical errors as part of the SCHA’s Zero Harm program.
AAMC won awards for having no central line associated blood stream infections (CLASBI) in the ICU for 24 consecutive months and no hospital onset MRSA for 72 straight months, a testament to the dedication of their clinical staff and the facility’s commitment to the highest quality of care, even in the face of the
extraordinary challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am very proud of our staff’s remarkable efforts to provide safe, quality care to our patients,” stated Cindy Buck, AAMC Interim CEO. “It is through their hard work and dedication that we continue to be recognized as a Zero Harm award recipient.”
SCHA’s Zero Harm Awards were started in 2014 to celebrate hospitals who have eliminated o
r avoided specific preventable hospital-acquired infections over an extended period of time. These awards are indicative of a culture committed to patient safety and providing highly reliable care. The hospital data used for these awards is independently verified by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Thanks to collaborations with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and The Joint Commission Center for Transforming Health, South Carolina hospitals have been united in statewide efforts to create a culture of high reliability and reduce harm in our facilities by implementing robust, evidence-based practices that are making a positive impact on patient safety and quality of care.
According to Thornton Kirby, President and CEO of SCHA, the Zero Harm Awards are also part of the Association’s efforts to guide and support the state’s hospitals in creating true “Zero Harm” cultures by recognizing the efforts of the amazing clinicians in South Carolina’s hospital and health systems who work every day to provide high-quality care.
For a full list of 2020 Zero Harm winners and to learn more about the program, please visit the SCHA Certified Zero Harm webpage. To view the Zero Harm video click <>!
Photo Caption: AAMC recently received two Zero Harm Awards for having no central line associated blood stream infections (CLASBI) in the ICU for 24 consecutive months and no hospital onset MRSA for 72 straight months. Pictured left to right with the award are: Chris Ceraldi, MD, incoming Trustee; Chris Oxendine, MD, outgoing Trustee; Selena Goodwin-Hay, incoming Trustee; Mike Johnson, Trustee; Laura Baughman, RN, Infection Control; Bobby Clarke, Trustee; Keith Scott, MD, Chief of Staff; Paul Crawford, outgoing Trustee; and Barry Dunn, Trustee.
