UT M. D. Anderson Patient Safety, Efficiency Initiatives Paying Off - 1, 2

Beyond that, hospital staff was able to incorporate a safer process of patient identification by enhancing movement of its electronic patient data. Patient photos were added to ID bracelets to ensure accurate identification of patients as they came in for diagnostic procedures.

The IDs also incorporate a bar code that allows hospital staff to quickly access patient information, which includes such things as drug interaction warnings, allergic reactions and type of procedure to be performed. A photo at the top of the electronic file that matches the one on the wristband further facilitates the identification process.

In the area of waste reduction, UT M. D. Anderson was able to expedite turnaround times on analyzing patient blood samples and reduce costs associated with performing lab work on blood specimens.

To achieve the faster turnaround time, the hospital redesigned its laboratory layouts – and even its carts used to transport blood samples – to provide a more efficient workflow. The changes resulted in a 30 percent reduction in turnaround time for analyzing blood work, and allowed the center to consolidate operations from four labs to two, which saves the hospital an estimated $270,000 per year, Martin said.

And finally, in the area of identifying and reporting potential errors before they occur, UT System institutions collaborated in a "Close Call System" initiative that encouraged nurses to report mistakes as they occurred.

The effort compiles a database of so-called "close calls" in the treatment of patients, analyzes data, then comes up with best practice methods to help prevent future occurrences.

To encourage reporting, UT M. D. Anderson came up with the baseball-themed "Good Catch" incentive program, in which potential mistakes were discovered before patients could be harmed. In a few months' time, the hospitals recorded nearly 2,000 calls, which helped generate a wealth of data about processes to improve delivery of care.

In one case, a nurse discovered a medication was nearly mistakenly distributed to a patient. After realizing the medication closely resembled another drug that was intended to be dispensed to the patient, hospital staff alerted the U.S. Safe Medication Agency, which in turn brought the matter to the attention of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The problem now is being addressed, Martin said.

"That look-alike phenomena is alive and well in the United States and is a clear area of vulnerability," Martin said.

While the programs have existed for two years, Martin said she looks forward to expanding the collaborative efforts to other UT institutions.

"We are convinced that collectively we can make far more progress with improvement initiatives than any single institution," she said.

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