Hospitals managed by Novant Health in South Carolina have been recognized with 21 Zero Harm Awards by the South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA) in 2024. The awards celebrate successful efforts to prevent common medical errors, emphasizing safety and reliability in health care facilities.
The SCHA’s Zero Harm program partners with The Duke Endowment and The Joint Commission Center for Transforming Health. It aims to foster a culture of high reliability and minimize harm in medical environments across the state.
Monica Davis, director of clinical quality improvement for East Cooper Medical Center, stated, “To earn these awards, hospitals must avoid or eliminate specific hospital-acquired infections, and that data is independently verified by the state health department.” Davis added that the awards represent the hard work of the team to maintain the safest environment for patients.
The awards highlight a reduction in prevalent medical errors, focusing on central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and surgical site infections (SSI). Various hospitals received awards for preventing infections and pressure injuries.
Dawn Ojeda, Novant Health Hilton Head Regional Healthcare’s market director for clinical quality improvement, remarked, “Creating safe facilities requires commitment every day from our health care team, from medical providers to the environmental services staff. We’re proud of our dedicated employees across South Carolina.”
Melanie Matney, chief operating officer of SCHA, stated, “The Zero Harm program is a prime example of a successful partnership between the public and private sector that improves the quality of life in South Carolina.”
Furthermore, Matney emphasized, “Zero patient harm is possible only if physicians, clinical and support staff members work together to support a culture of high reliability.”
