Patient Advocates and Providers Talk Patient Safety

Hauppauge, NY May 12, 2010 – Patient safety advocates joined forces with nurses, quality managers, and administrators from Long Island’s hospitals on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 and re-committed themselves to work collaboratively on a variety of patient safety initiatives. The group gathered at the offices of co-sponsor Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council for the final meeting of the Long Island Patient Safety Advisory Council, which was created and facilitated by nationally-recognized patient safety advocate Ilene Corina through her grassroots organization PULSE of NY.

Corina was awarded a patient safety fellowship by the American Hospital Association last year, which enabled her to assemble this advisory council comprised of individuals representing a broad spectrum of patient populations and their unique safety concerns. The fellowship was supported by the member hospitals of NSHC and by a separate grant from the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, also a Hospital Council member. Corina was the first Long Islander selected for this prestigious year-long program designed to promote breakthroughs in safety practices.

"My goal is and always has been to engage patient and provider in working together to ensure safe care," said Corina.

The highlight of the meeting was the panel of experts who spoke freely about their experiences with patient safety, both as providers and patients. Panelists included nurses, a physician, and a pharmacist.

"I recall asking the question, ‘Do you feel safe here?’" said Anna Gaeta, RN, patient safety manager at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Northport. "No one had ever asked the patient that question before."

Clinical pharmacist Danielle Ezzo emphasized that caregivers need to empower patients and families so the right questions are asked. Care is a team effort and patients are part of that team, agreed the panelists.

"Every day hospitals are improving their standards of safe care in all clinical areas," said Kevin Dahill, president/CEO of the Hospital Council. "It was our honor to work with the Long Island Patient Safety Advisory Council and PULSE of NY, and we look forward to working with PULSE on the safety challenges that lie ahead."

From left sitting: Grena Porto,RN, Prinicpal, Quality, Risk and Safety Healthcare Consultants (Hockessin, DE);
Anna Gaeta, RN, Patient Safety Manager, Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Northport, NY); Danielle Ezzo, Pharm D,
Clinical Coordinator of Ambulatory Care, Long Island Jewish Medical Center and Assistant Clinical Professor, St. John’s University; and Leslie Farrington MD, private practice (Lake Success, NY). Standing: Kevin Dahill, President/CEO of Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council and Ilene Corina, Founder of PULSE of LI and AHA Patient Safety Fellow.

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PULSE of NY is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization dedicated to raising awareness about patient safety and reducing medical errors through advocacy, education, and support. We work to empower the public to make informed decisions, increase effective communication and respect between healthcare providers and the public, and create community partnerships that will foster and ultimately lead to safer healthcare environments. To learn about PULSE of NY go to www.pulseofny.org or visit www.pulseamerica.org to see if there is a PULSE near you.