The Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) unveiled the inaugural Zero Harm Awards, a new initiative recognizing outstanding achievements in patient safety across Tennessee hospitals. This awards program, developed in collaboration with the Tennessee Center for Patient Safety (TCPS) and the THA Quality Committee, celebrates hospitals and clinical departments that have reached zero healthcare-associated infections in categories including Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI), Clostridium difficile Infections (CDI), and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) over the past calendar year.
“The achievements of these hospitals are a testament to exceptional quality and safety practices in their facilities,” 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, and eight hospitals achieved the remarkable feat of zero harm events across all four eligible categories.”
Eligible participants include acute care and pediatric hospitals that report data to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) and have voluntarily granted data rights to THA. To ensure accuracy, the Tennessee Department of Health partnered with THA to validate the data. Award criteria require hospitals to have a minimum of 50 line days or patient days hospital-wide or at the unit level for CAUTI and CLABSI.
The Zero Harm Awards highlight the dedicated efforts of hospitals and clinical departments that are committed to eliminating harm, saving lives, and reducing unnecessary costs. This initiative aligns with the THA board’s goal of achieving zero preventable harm across Tennessee hospitals.
The awards brochure, featuring all recipients, was distributed during THA’s Annual Meeting on Sept. 11, 2024. The recipients are listed here.
Congratulations to all award recipients for their exceptional commitment to patient safety and quality care.
