May 15, 2019
News Briefs from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
OHIO STATE WEXNER MEDICAL CENTER EARNS TOP GRADE IN PATIENT SAFETY
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Ohio State East Hospital have earned an “A” grade – the highest possible – for patient safety by The Leapfrog Group. In the 14 times grades have been awarded, this is the ninth time the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center has been awarded an “A” and the eighth time that East Hospital has earned this distinction. Designed to rate how well hospitals protect patients from accidents, errors, injuries and infections, the score is calculated under the guidance of Leapfrog’s Blue Ribbon Expert Panel. The Hospital Safety Score uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to produce a single “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” score representing a hospital’s overall capacity to keep patients safe from preventable harm. Of the approximately 2,500 hospitals issued a score, only 30 percent earned an A. To see how Ohio State Wexner Medical Center’s score compares to other hospitals, as well as more patient safety information, visit the Hospital Safety Score website.
OHIO STATE NAMED A WORLD ALLERGY ORGANIZATION CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children's Hospital have been chosen as a World Allergy Organization Center of Excellence for the 2019-2022 term by the World Allergy Organization. The purpose of the WAO Centers of Excellence is to intensify and accelerate multi-disciplinary scientific and clinical innovation, education and advocacy worldwide providing excellence in education, research and training to various stakeholders in allergy, asthma and clinical immunology. Ohio State and Nationwide Children’s Hospital are one of a handful of organizations in North America to receive this designation.
POULOSE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAS HERNIA SOCIETY
Dr. Benjamin Poulose, director of the Division of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, has been elected president of the Americas Hernia Society. This is the leading organization for hernia related care in the United States. The Americas Hernia Society aims to advance the science and treatment of hernia.
PAWLIK TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT-ELECT OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Dr.Timothy Pawlik, chair of the Department of Surgery at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and professor of surgery at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, was elected president-elect of the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA) at the 2019 annual meeting. The AHPBA is a nonprofit organization, created with a vision of devoting itself to relieving the human suffering caused by HPB disorders throughout the world by improving education, training, innovation, research and patient care.
OHIO STATE WEXNER MEDICAL CENTER RECEIVES PARTNER FOR CHANGE AWARD
Practice Greenhealth has awarded the Partner for Change Award to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Selection as a Partner for Change Award winner highlights Ohio State Wexner Medical Center’s superior performance in environmental sustainability. The Greenhealth Partner for Change award recognizes health care facilities that have implemented a significant number of environmental programs and continuously improve and expand upon these programs on the path to sustainability. Practice Greenhealth is the nation’s leading membership and networking organization for institutions in the health care community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices.
OHIO STATE OUTPATIENT PULMONARY REHABILITATION RECEIVES PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program was honored recently as the Ohio Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (OACVPR) Program of the Year. OACVPR is dedicated to the improvement of clinical practice, promotion of scientific inquiry and advancement of education in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation.
PHARMACIST MENTORING PROGRAM RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED INTERNATIONAL AWARD
The Ohio State University – South Africa Antibiotic Stewardship “Train-the-Trainer” mentoring program was selected to receive the 2019 Distinguished International Award from Ohio State’s Office of International Affairs and the Office of Outreach and Engagement. The mentoring program for South African hospital pharmacists has contributed to the reduction of antibiotics and improved the quality of patients’ lives and citizens of South Africa who are impacted every day by antibiotic resistant “superbug” infections. Debra Goff, an Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center infectious disease specialist, clinical pharmacist and associate professor, has led the program since 2012.
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Media Contact: Amy Colgan, Wexner Medical Center Media Relations, 614-293-3737