Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center Earns “Zero Harm Awards” from Tennessee Hospital Association

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center recently received eight Zero Harm Awards for patient safety from the Tennessee Hospital Association. THA’s new awards program recognizes outstanding patient safety achievements at hospitals across Tennessee.

“Our team is committed to making patient safety our first priority each and every day,” said April Mount, chief nursing officer of Fort Sanders Regional. “We applaud our team’s diligent work to make these Zero Harm achievements possible.”

The award celebrates hospitals and clinical departments that reached zero healthcare-associated infections in various areas over the past calendar year. This initiative aligns with the THA board’s goal of achieving zero “preventable harm events” across Tennessee hospitals.

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center’s Zero Harm Awards

For 2023, Fort Sanders Regional received Zero Harm Awards in:

• CAUTI (Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections)
  • 2 North
  • 3 West
  • 5 North
  • 7 North
  • Cardiovascular ICU
• CLABSI (Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections)
  • 2 North
  • 5 North
  • Neurosurgical ICU

CAUTIs occur when germs enter the urinary tract through a urinary catheter and cause infection. CLABSIs occur when germs enter the bloodstream through a central line. A central line is a tube inserted into major veins in the chest, neck or groin to give fluids or medication, or to collect blood. Zero healthcare-associated infections in these areas highlight the dedicated efforts of hospitals and clinical departments committed to eliminating harm, saving lives, and reducing unnecessary costs.

The hospital’s achievements “are a testament to exceptional quality and safety practices,” said Tammy Van Dyk, THA senior vice president of patient safety. “We are proud to announce that 94 member hospitals received the Zero Harm Awards this year. Eight hospitals achieved the remarkable feat of zero harm events across all four eligible categories.”

In addition to Fort Sanders Regional, other Covenant Health hospitals earning Zero Harm Awards are Claiborne Medical Center, Tazewell; Cumberland Medical Center, Crossville; Fort Loudoun Medical Center, Lenoir City; LeConte Medical Center, Sevierville; Methodist Medical Center, Oak Ridge; Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System, Morristown; Parkwest Medical Center, Knoxville, and Roane Medical Center, Harriman.

Learn more about the Zero Harm Awards at THA’s website.