Improving Surgical Outcomes
The Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) of the Joint Commission is a national quality partnership of organizations interested in improving surgical care by significantly reducing surgical complications. SCIP Partners include the Steering Committee of 10 national organizations who have pledged their commitment and full support for SCIP.
In addition, the SCIP target areas are advised by a technical expert panel (TEP). This group meets on a quarterly basis and provides technical expertise and resources to ensure the SCIP measures are fully supported by evidence-based research.
Training Heart Physicians
The Heart Center at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph serves as a training site that teaches cardiologists from around the state about advanced procedures for peripheral vascular disease. The training program allows physicians to gain the skills necessary under the supervision of highly skilled, experienced Lakeland specialists. Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph is one of only 20 sites in the nation offering the training, and one of only two in Michigan.
The Keystone Initiative
In November 2003, Lakeland began participating in the Keystone ICU Project created by Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. The Keystone project is a quality initiative that focuses on increasing patient safety in ICUs by combining evidence-based medicine with quality improvement. The 17-bed Critical Care Unit (CCU) at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph provides care for more than 1,200 patients each year. Intensivists work with patients to provide specialized care 24/7. Lakeland is one of more than 90 hospitals across Michigan participating in the Keystone ICU project.
The CCU team is constantly measuring and collecting data to show the effect the initiative has on a patient’s length of stay and condition. Participation in the Keystone ICU project has been a great asset to the CCU team, providing positive improvements in the areas of quality, patient safety and employee satisfaction.