Creating a template for the safest hospital

A new alliance of three hospital systems has taken the lead in making hospitals safer for patients. Wellmont Health System, Adventist Health System, and Novant Health-collectively known as the Safest Hospital Alliance-have joined together to define metrics and identify best practices that will demonstrate how a safe hospital should operate and treat patients. Its efforts are backed by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

According to Medical Liability Monitor (6/2007), "over a 2-year period, the alliance will focus on developing one to three core processes that will enable a hospital to close the gap between their current performance and perfection by 80%." It is hoped that such a template will save 20% to 30% in health-care costs. The alliance also expects to share its template with other health-care systems, provide consulting services, and offer training.