Patient Safety & Quality Improvement

Confluence Health is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency and continuous improvement in safety and quality. Our organization prioritizes open communication and accountability, ensuring that every patient receives safe, high-quality care.

How We Are Keeping You Safe

At Confluence Health, patient safety is our highest priority. We are committed to achieving zero preventable harm and continuously advancing quality of care. Our team rigorously monitors performance, learns from every experience, and implements best practices to enhance safety. We transparently share our progress on key measures, including infection prevention and fall reduction. While we are proud of our advancements, our pursuit of excellence continues until every patient receives care that is free from harm. The following information shows how Confluence Health is progressing toward meeting these objectives (click the image below to see a larger version).

Patient Falls

Patients who are acutely ill, have chronic medical conditions, or are in unfamiliar environments such as hospitals are at increased risk for falls resulting in injury. Additional factors include impaired mobility, cognitive impairment, medication side effects and environmental hazards.

To reduce the risk of patient falls, Confluence Health implements the following strategies:

• Conducts frequent rounding to assist with toileting and personal needs.
• Partners with patients to promote safe transfers and mobility.
• Utilizes bed and chair alarms.
• Educates staff, patients and families on the importance of requesting assistance to promote safety and prevent falls.

How can patients and families support fall safety?

• Request assistance from staff when getting in or out of bed, walking, or using the restroom (especially if feeling weak, dizzy or unsteady).

• Use the call light to ask for help rather than trying to move independently.

• Keep personal items (glasses, phones, water) within easy reach to avoid unnecessary movement.

• Wear non-slip footwear.

Pressure Injuries

Pressure injuries may develop when a patient remains in one position for prolonged periods of time or because of certain medical devices.

To prevent pressure injuries, Confluence Health employs the following strategies:

• Conducts frequent assessments for early signs of skin changes.
• We have skin experts routinely reviewing high-risk patients.
• Uses prevention tactics to reduce skin breakdown.

How can patients and families support pressure injury safety?

• Help the patient change positions regularly—especially if they are unable to move themselves—to relieve pressure on vulnerable areas of the body.
• Perform a daily check of the patient’s skin for signs of redness, discoloration or open areas, and promptly report any changes to the healthcare team.
• Use pillows or special cushions as recommended by the healthcare team to protect bony areas and reduce pressure.

Hand Hygiene

Cleaning hands with soap and water or sanitizer is the most effective way to prevent infections.

To promote hand hygiene, Confluence Health employs the following strategies:

• Hangs posters and signs throughout the hospital to remind staff, patients and visitors about practicing hand hygiene.
• Encourages everyone to speak up if they observe lapses in hand hygiene.
• Uses trained observers to monitor the hand hygiene practices of our healthcare workers.

How can patients, families and visitors support hand hygiene safety?

• Ask healthcare providers if they have performed hand hygiene before entering the patient’s room.
• Practice frequent hand hygiene, especially before eating, after using the restroom and after contact with surfaces in the hospital room.
• Comply with any additional infection control measures (such as wearing isolation gowns) as directed by the healthcare team.

Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI)

Catheters are sometimes placed into a patient’s bladder to help them to urinate. Bacteria that normally live in this area of the body can sometimes enter the catheters and cause infections.

To reduce the risk of catheter-associated infections, Confluence Health implements the following measures:

• Utilizes standardized bundles for catheter insertion and care.
• Removes catheters promptly, allowing patients to attempt independent urination before considering reinsertion.
• Maintains strict perineal hygiene.

How can patients and families support urinary catheter safety?

• Ask the healthcare provider why the urinary catheter is needed and how long it is expected to remain in place. This helps ensure the catheter is only used when medically necessary.
• Only touch the catheter after performing proper hand hygiene (washing hands with soap and water or using sanitizer).
• Always keep the urinary catheter bag below the level of the bladder (to prevent backflow and infection), but never let it touch the floor.

Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI)

A CLABSI is a serious infection that occurs when pathogens enter the bloodstream via a central venous catheter. This condition can result in significant illness and often necessitates advanced medical intervention.

To reduce the risk of central line-associated infections, Confluence Health implements the following measures:

• Utilizes evidence-based bundles for insertion and maintenance.
• Selects insertion sites with lower infection risk whenever possible.
• Applies transparent, antimicrobial dressings.
• Removes central lines promptly when no longer medically necessary.

How can patients, families and visitors support central line safety?

• Alert staff members if they notice the central line dressing coming off or becoming wet or dirty.
• Only touch the central line after performing hand hygiene.
• Ask healthcare providers if they have performed hand hygiene before touching the line, and be sure to speak up if there are any concerns.
• Follow good hand hygiene practices by washing their hands before entering and leaving patients’ rooms.