Colquitt Regional Medical Center wins statewide patient safety award

MOULTRIE — Colquitt Regional Medical Center recently announced it is the recipient of the prestigious Patient Safety and Quality Award, given by the Georgia Hospital Association. The project, “CAUTI — The Journey to Zero,” won first place in the hospitals with less than 100 beds category.

The GHA annual awards presentation recognizes Georgia health care organizations for achievement in reducing the risk of medical errors and improving patient safety and medical outcomes.

“We are pleased to honor Colquitt Regional Medical Center for their innovative approach to improving patient safety,” Georgia Hospital Association President and CEO Caylee Noggle said. “Their efforts have improved the health and wellness of the community, and we thank them for their important work in this area.”

The “CAUTI — The Journey to Zero” project was pursued to help reduce the number of CAUTI (catheter-associated urinary tract infection) cases within the hospital. A task force was assembled, and the team implemented a care protocol. This consisted of ongoing education, training, and collaboration over the course of the project’s timeline to ensure its effectiveness and sustainability.

“Patient safety is always our top priority at Colquitt Regional,” hospital President and CEO Jim Matney said. “We regularly evaluate our processes and protocols to ensure that each patient receives the best, safest care possible. This task force worked diligently to create and employ their action plan and the results have been outstanding.”

Through this project, Colquitt Regional was able to reach its goal of decreasing its CAUTI incidences to zero in 2023. The task force continues to promote awareness in the area by requiring yearly education for employees who work in patient care.

“Receiving this prestigious award from GHA is a testament to this team’s efforts and the hospital’s overall commitment to exceptional care,” Hospital Authority Chairman Richard E. Turner Jr. said. “I am always impressed by the level of dedication of all our employees, and it is great to have their hard work recognized at the state level.”

The CAUTI task force is a multidisciplinary team that includes RN Dena Zinker, Vice President of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Officer RN Renee Ellenberg, Director of Intensive Care Unit and Progressive Care Unit RN Melanie Owens, Vice President of Quality Assurance Scott Price, Director of Second Floor RN Lindy Sanderson, Assistant Director of Quality Assurance Dr. Witemba Kabange, Hospital Medicine Physician RN Ashley McDaniel, Infection Preventionist Dr. Joseph Beavers, Hospital Medicine Physician Toni Riddle, Assistant Vice President of Nursing and Director of Nursing Jim Matney, President and CEO Dr. Michael Brown, Chief Medical Officer and Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician RN Karen Hart, Fourth Floor Director Jacob Boyd, Programmer Analyst Jacob Calloway, and Clinical Informaticist Edie Brunty.

For more information on this award, contact the Colquitt Regional marketing department at (229) 890-3552.

Special Photo: Colquitt Regional