Healthcare Quality Week was held nationally from October 15th-21st, 2023. Many South Dakota hospitals across the state took part in celebrating this week at their hospitals.
Amanda Karrels, BSN, RN, CPHQ is the Clinical Quality Coordinator for Monument Health Sturgis Hospital. Amanda gave out awards to those around her facility and titled the program “This Prize May Not Be Quality, But You Are”. Prizes included canned meat, small trophies and other goofy gifts. Amanda also wrote a poem that was sent out to all the caregivers at her facility.
Healthcare quality is not a joke.
It’s a serious matter that affects many folks.
But sometimes we need a little fun.
To keep us motivated and get things done.
So, here’s a poem that I wrote for you.
To remind you of what you need to do.
To provide the best care for your patients
And avoid any errors or incidents.
You work at Sturgis Hospital/Clinic, a place of excellence.
Where you strive to meet the standards and the evidence
You follow the protocols and the guidelines.
And you use your skills and your minds.
But you also know that there is always room to grow.
And that learning from feedback is the way to go.
You embrace the culture of improvement and innovation.
And you seek to make a difference in your profession.
So, keep up the good work and the passion.
And remember that healthcare quality is not a fashion.
It’s a commitment and a mission that you share.
With your colleagues and your patients everywhere
Misty Faulkner, RN is the Resource/Infection Control nurse at Douglas County Memorial Hospital. Misty and her team celebrated Healthcare Quality Week with a party that included a special cake and ice cream. Staff also got to take part in a “clean hands” station where they checked their hands under a glow light. The purpose of the station was to show effective handwashing techniques. The staff at Douglas County Memorial Hospital are very grateful for Misty’s dedication and hard work at the facility.
SDAHO participated in Healthcare Quality Week by encouraging their own staff to use “Quality Week” designed backgrounds on zoom calls, and a specialty email signature, that promoted the week. SDAHO promoted quality on the website and on social media sites. In addition, SDAHO helped promote NAHQ free webinars and gave away $25 gift cards every day that week. The winners were:
- Monday = Douglas County Memorial Hospital
- Tuesday = Marshall County Healthcare Avera
- Wednesday = Avera De Smet Memorial Hospital
- Thursday = Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital
- Friday = Falls River Health Services
The SDAHO team is dedicated to the quality of work provided to each member hospital and takes great pride in being the “quality expert” across the state. SDAHO recognizes the trust that continues to grow between the association and member facilities and appreciates those relationships.
The quality team manages four grants.
- FLEX/MBQIP grant
- HQIC grant
- Overdoes Data to Action (ED tool kit) grant
- HRSA Network Development grant focused on workforce.
SDAHO enjoys providing education and resources to better serve the needs of each member hospital.
The SDAHO Quality Team consists of:
- Director Of Quality Integration: Becky Heisinger, MBQ, PMP, CGMS, CPHQ
- Quality Improvement Consultant: Michelle Hofer, BSN, RN, CPHQ
- Quality Improvement Consultant: Loretta Bryan, BSN, RN, CPHQ
- Workforce Development Coordinator: Lindsay Stroman
For more information on SDAHO’s Quality Integration Team, visit www.sdaho.org/quality-integration/
