Bon Secours wins 2023 Zero Harm Award for commitment to patient safety

Bon Secours is proud to be recognized as a 2023 recipient of the Certified Zero Harm Awards. The Upstate health system is a frequent winner of the Zero harm honor which recognizes hospital units who have an extraordinary commitment to quality of care and have also successfully eliminated some of the most common medical errors in healthcare today.

“We are continuously educating staff on quality standards and appropriate protocols to ensure we’re maintaining the highest standards of patient safety and quality outcomes. This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our clinical leaders and team members who demonstrate a steadfast commitment to providing high-quality care for our patients,” said Matt Caldwell, President of Bon Secours St. Francis Health System.

SFDT Exterior

South Carolina’s Zero Harm program was created by the South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA) in 2014. It was done in collaboration with The Duke Endowment and The Joint Commission Center for Transforming Health to support statewide efforts to create a culture of high reliability and reduce harm in our state’s healthcare facilities. For each award, hospitals must eliminate or avoid specific preventable hospital-acquired infections over an extended period of time, and that data must be independently verified by DHEC. This unique third-party verification process with the state health department provides exceptional legitimacy to these patient safety awards and is a testament to the spirit of statewide collaboration.

“The Zero Harm program is a prime example of a successful partnership between the public and private sector that improves the quality of life in South Carolina,” says Karen Reynolds, Director of Innovation and Acceleration at SCHA. “As medical errors continue to be a major concern across the country, South Carolina has developed a blueprint for reducing avoidable harm in our healthcare facilities that other states can follow.”

Bon Secours St. Francis Downtown Hospital’s 2023 Zero Harm Awards were in the areas of pressure injury and central line bloodstream infection (CLABSI) for the 2 nd floor surgical unit. Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside Hospital’s awards were in the areas of pressure injury as well as CLABSI on the 3 rd floor med/surg and ortho units as well as in the ICU. “Zero patient harm is possible only if physicians, clinical and support staff members work together to support a culture of high reliability. Zero Harm Award winners are an inspiration to all hospitals across the state striving to provide measurably safe care for every patient.”

Eastside at sunrise

Now in its tenth year, the Zero Harm program currently receives ongoing support from BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and has expanded outside of its clinical focus to touch on other major priority areas like workplace violence. Both Bon Secours hospitals also received the Drive to Zero Workplace Violence Award. It recognizes healthcare workers are at increased risk of workplace violence due to a number of factors, including working with challenging patients and handling sensitive drugs and medications, and that addressing this danger is essential to creating a culture of safety and respect in our facilities. Given in partnership with Antum Risk, the award recognizes facilities that are embracing Zero Harm through the adoption of specific Workplace Violence prevention strategies.

For more information about this year’s awards and a full list of winners, go to https://www.zeroharmsc.org/award-winners-2023.

Bon Secours St. Francis Health System

Bon Secours St. Francis Health System is part of Bon Secours Mercy Health, one of the 20 largest health systems in the United States and the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the country. The ministry’s quality, compassionate care is provided by more than 60,000 associates serving communities in Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia, as well as throughout Ireland. Bon Secours St. Francis Health System provides compassionate medical care to thousands of area residents through Bon Secours St. Francis Downtown and Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside, as well as a network of primary and specialty care practices, and ambulatory care sites across the Greenville region. The mission of Bon Secours St. Francis Health System is to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of our communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved. For more information, visit BonSecours.com.