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Indianapolis VA Medical Center recognized with safety “Program of Excellence” designation

Patient Safety Team standing together and smiling for their photo op.
Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center Patient Safety Team (L to R) Kaitlin Jay, Patient Safety Manager; Ethan Wahl, Medication Safety Program Manager; Karen Arthur, Associate Chief of Pharmacy; Leesa Lowder, Patient Safety Manager; Ryan Powell, Patient Safety Program Manager; Katie Fulkerson, Patient Safety Manager; Tamara Pierce, Medical Safety Program Manager.

Indianapolis, Ind. - Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center’s (RLRVAMC) Patient Safety Team has been recognized by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) with the Patient Safety Program of Excellence (PSPoE) designation.

A “Program of Excellence” is defined as a body in an organization that has leading-edge knowledge and competency in a particular area and is comprised of highly skilled experts committed to patient safety.  To be designated a Program of Excellence, facilities must apply and submit a comprehensive portfolio that demonstrates the following: Facility leadership empowers their patient safety professionals; Interdisciplinary teams exceed minimum Patient Safety Program requirements; Work efforts align with clearly defined patient safety objectives focused on accountability.

According to the RLRVAMC patient safety team, the designation means that medical center safety program encompasses industry leading competency in providing services that emphasize safety in patient care. Being recognized nationally by the VA’s National Center for Patient Safety defines the medical center as one that embodies all levels of staff, from executive to front-line, are ensuring patients are receiving safe, effective, and appropriate care.

The Patient Safety Program of Excellence is in its inaugural year as an NCPS designation. To be considered, organizations are required, over and above the yearly requirements of the program, to submit a portfolio with data and evidence to demonstrate patient safety program effectiveness.  

“The application (presented by the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center Patient Safety Team) highlights the work by the Patient Safety Program, and others in the facility, to advance patient safety locally and across the Veterans Health Administration. said National Center for Patient Safety Executive Director Edward E. Yackel, DNP FNP-C, FAANP.  “To add context,” he said, “only nine programs within VHA have received this designation!” 

About the designation, RLRVAMC Director Michael Hershman said, “Patient Safety is our leading priority and informs every effort, action we take and decision we make. I could not be prouder of our Patient Safety Team and all of the ways their contributions provide all our teams with the tools, resources and guidance they need to ensure our patients’ safety.” 

According to the Patient Safety Team some of the highest scoring areas were earned because of the team’s comprehensive analysis of patient safety events or root cause analyses, the facility’s scoring on fostering an environment that promotes psychological safety with reporting of errors, team members involvement in national VA safety projects and mentorship and presentations of safety topics at the national and local level.

According to NCPS, 19 VHA facilities submitted portfolios for consideration, of which nine were awarded the PSPoE. 

To learn more about Veteran Health Indiana programs and facilities, please visit: VA Indiana Health Care | Veterans Affairs