Ashtabula County Medical Center | ACMC Pulse | Winter 2018

6 ACMC Pulse  • acmchealth.org WHAT MAKES A HEALTHCARE FACILITY SAFE? It is not the awards and certifications. Those are simply the outward signs. It’s a culture of safety that is embedded in every caregiver that makes a hospital safe. That’s the culture you find at Ashtabula County Medical Center (ACMC). As proof of that, ACMC was recognized earlier this year by three agencies for its dedication to keeping patients safe. Healthgrades Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals, presented ACMC with the Healthgrades 2018 Patient Safety Excellence Award. This award recognizes the hospital for superior performance in preventing the occurrence of serious, potentially avoidable complications for patients during hospital stays. The distinction places ACMC among the top 10 percent of all short-term acute care hospitals in the United States. “Quality and safety are rooted in ACMC’s culture—from the administrative offices to each and every one of our caregivers,” said Michael Habowski, ACMC Healthcare System President and CEO. “It takes daily attention to detail and a commitment to continuous improvement to make it a reality. Patient safety is lived out each day by ACMC’s caregivers.” American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association ACMC also focuses on patient safety and quality for specific health disorders, such as stroke. ACMC was recently honored with an American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring that stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, scientific research-based guidelines. ACMC earned the recognition by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. “The tools and resources provided by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association help us track and measure our success in meeting evidence-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes,” Habowski said. FLU SEASON ALERT Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Influenza can be MISERABLE & DEADLY . Nearly EVERYONE 6 months or older should get a yearly flu vaccine. Flu viruses CHANGE from year to year. To stay protected, you need a flu vaccine EVERY YEAR. Vaccinate! Don’t wait. Don’t hesitate. It takes 2 WEEKS for the flu vaccine to be fully effective. BUST THAT MYTH! The flu shot can’t give you the flu. It has no infectious germs.* *Mild side effects from the shot may occur, but serious reactions are very rare. TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT AT STAYING WELL Flu shots are available on a walk-in basis at ACMC’s four Express Care locations or by appointment at physician offices in Ashtabula, Conneaut, Geneva and Jefferson. Call 440-997-6969 to schedule an appointment. ! Putting patient Patient safety