Saint Clare’s Health Recognized for its Commitment to Increase Patient Survival from In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
Hospital participates in innovative program that verifies CPR competency and improves quality, performance and delivery
DENVILLE, NJ (March 28, 2019) – More than 200,000 in-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually in the U.S. with survival rates from adult in-hospital cardiac arrest at less than 26 percent. Patients who suffer a cardiac arrest must receive the highest quality CPR possible, which is known to be the cornerstone for survival. For decades, the CPR training standard for healthcare providers has been Basic Life Support with a requirement for participants to renew their course completion card every two years. However, studies show CPR skills can decay within three to six months following this training.
Saint Clare’s Health recognizes the importance of high-quality CPR competency, performance and delivery in saving more lives. The Resuscitation Quality Improvement® program (RQI®), co-developed by the American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical, was implemented at Saint Clare’s Health in 2017 to help healthcare professionals achieve, master and sustain high-quality CPR skills and competency, resulting in improved patient outcomes.
The American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical recently recognized Saint Clare’s Health for its commitment to high-quality CPR competency through adoption and implementation of the RQI program. Among the first hospitals in New Jersey, and the only one in Morris County, to adopt this program, Saint Clare’s has become a true RQI champion, exemplifying successful implementation and staff participation and serving as an ideal role model in creating a culture of resuscitation excellence. Saint Clare’s currently has five RQI skills stations placed at the point-of-care locations in our three facilities.
“Training and development of skills is essential to patient care,” states Brian Finestein, CEO, Saint Clare’s Health. “Our patients deserve the best possible care from Saint Clare’s and the RQI program helps to ensure that our staff is consistently engaged in CPR practice sessions able to react at a moment’s notice without hesitation and have the skill set and equipment necessary to ensure improved patient outcomes.”
Last July, the American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical called for a new standard of care by shifting resuscitation practice from course training once every two years to verified CPR competency for healthcare professionals. Introduced in 2015, the RQI program was designed for healthcare professionals with responsibility for patient care. Now, RQI 2020, introduced in January, prepares all healthcare system staff members to deliver high-quality CPR and verify competency in Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support through simulated skills sessions and eLearning simulations.
RQI 2020 provides a high-reliability platform for self-directed, simulation-based mastery learning and performance, which is implemented through “low-dose, high-frequency” hands-on CPR quality improvement sessions, in 10 minutes every 90 days, that measure and verify competency each time. The program also provides analytics that can measure individual, department, facility or system compliance. In addition, it allows for simplified enrollment and offers additional modules for learners when necessary. Furthering its commitment to improved quality and patient care, Saint Clare’s Health will transition to the RQI 2020 platform later this year.
To provide a complete solution to hospitals, a brand new offering – RQI Responder – is now available for use by non-clinical healthcare staff who are not directly involved in patient care. The addition of RQI Responder will ensure that every hospital employee, clinical and non-clinical, is prepared to respond to a cardiac arrest event and able to provide high-quality CPR.
To learn more about the RQI program and the value it brings to hospitals, patient care and communities at-large, visit www.heart.org/RQI and www.rqipartners.com.
About Saint Clare’s Health
Saint Clare’s Health is an award-winning provider of safe, high quality, compassionate care, serving the communities of Morris and Sussex counties. Its network of hospitals and healthcare facilities include Denville Hospital, Dover Hospital, Behavioral Health centers in Boonton, Denville, and Parsippany, and an Imaging Center in Parsippany, among other satellite locations. To learn more visit SainClares.com and Like Us on Facebook.
Saint Clare’s Health is Joint Commission accredited and Saint Clare’s Denville Hospital has been recognized by the following third-party organizations:
- 5 Five Rating from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
- Leapfrog A Rating for Patient Safety
- Named among the top 5% in the nation for patient safety in 2018
- Named among the top 5% in the nation for Coronary Interventional Procedures in 2019
- Joint Commission Disease Specific Certification for Hip & Knee Replacement and Stroke
- One of HealthGrade America’s 100 Best Orthopedic Surgery for two years in a row (2018-2019)
- One of HealthGrade America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention in 2019
- Recipient of the following HealthGrade Five Star recognitions: Hip Fracture Treatment, Total Knee Replacement, Coronary Intervention Excellence, Coronary Interventional Procedures, Pacemaker Procedures, Treatment of Stroke, Treatment of Pneumonia, Gallbladder Surgery, Appendectomy, Treatment of Sepsis, C-Section, Gynecologic Procedures, Hysterectomy
- Recipient of other HealthGrade recognitions: Patient Safety Excellent Award Winner 2018, Gynecologic Procedures Excellence Award in 2018
- Recognized by Leapfrog in partners with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Hospital Recognition Program
- American Heart Association recognitions:
- Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award
- Target Stroke Honor Roll Elite Award
- Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Receiving Center – Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award 2018
- Three Year Accreditation Award with Commendation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer
- Following accreditations by the American College of Radiology (ACR): Accreditation in Radiation Oncology, Accreditation Breast Imaging Center of Excellence
- American Association of Cardiovascular Pulmonary Rehab Certification
- Accredited Echocardiology Laboratory by the Intersocietal Commission for Accreditation of Echocardiology Laboratories
- Accredited Echocardiology Laboratory by the Intersocietal Commission for Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories
- International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners Care Award
- Pathway to Excellence designation by the American Nurses Credential Center (ANCC) 2018-2022
- 2017 Women’s Choice Award by America’s Best Hospital Patient Safety
Saint Clare’s Dover Hospital has received the following:
- 5 Star Rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
- Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQUP) Comprehensive Center designation Joint Commission Accredited
- Leapfrog A Rating for Patient Safety
- Joint Commission Disease-Specific Certification for Stroke
- Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award 2016 and 2018
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine Accreditation
- American Heart Association accreditations:
- Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award
- Target Stroke Honor Roll Elite Award
- Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Receiving Center Bronze Plus 2017 Quality Achievement Award
- American College of Radiology Accreditation Breast Imaging Center of Excellence®
- Pathway to Excellence designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) 2018-2022
- 2017 Women’s Choice Award by America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a leading force for a world of longer, healthier lives. With nearly a century of lifesaving work, the Dallas-based association is dedicated to ensuring equitable health for all. We are a trustworthy source empowering people to improve their heart health, brain health and well-being. We collaborate with numerous organizations and millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, advocate for stronger public health policies, and share lifesaving resources and information. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
About Laerdal Medical
Laerdal Medical, one of the world’s leading providers of healthcare solutions, is dedicated to helping save lives with products and services for Simulation, Airway Management, Immobilization, Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support, Patient Care, Self-Directed Learning and Medical Education. Laerdal is pleased to serve all healthcare providers and educators, from the lay rescuer to medical professionals. Laerdal operates sales and support offices in 23 countries worldwide, and with the head office located in Stavanger, Norway. For more information, visit www.laerdal.com or call 877-523-7325.