We’re proud to say that we’ve implemented programs and policies that help to keep our patients and residents safe, whether they’re in our hospital, clinics, or long-term care facility. 

SAFE Protocols

The SAFE program was created by the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) to help hospitals adopt standard procedures and safety measures that will protect patients from:

  • mistakes in surgery (SAFE SITE)
  • falls and resulting injury (SAFE from FALLS)
  • infection following delivery (SAFE COUNT)
  • skin sores on bed patients (SAFE SKIN)
  • supplies used in the operating room being unintentionally left behind in patients (SAFE ACCOUNT)

Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP)

Our SCIP committee presents recommendations to improve care before, during and after surgery and to reduce the number of post-surgical complications.

Preventing Medication Errors

Our online medication administration record (OMAR) provides staff with an up-to-date, detailed electronic record of our patients’ medications. The list is created when a patient enters our system, and is periodically reviewed and updated by the patient and all providers.

Our IV “smart pump” infusion system helps to reduce or eliminate errors in IV dosage. The IV medication is programmed into the pump, providing safe, accurate and reliable delivery at the appropriate rate and doses.

HUGS Safety System for Our Birth Center

Every baby born at our hospital is fitted with a HUGS ankle band programmed to match the mother’s wrist band. In addition to removing doubt about moms’ and babies’ identities, the baby ankle band carries a microchip, monitored by staff, to ensure that the baby stays in our birthing center until discharged — the chip transmits a signal every ten seconds. GRH doors and elevators are equipped with alarms triggered by the HUGS system.

Stop MRSA!

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an antibiotic-resistant staph infection that can be easily spread in hospitals. At GRH, a patient with MRSA is placed in a private room with a sign outside to alert health care workers and visitors. Staff wears protective clothing to avoid spreading the infection to other patients. Staff and visitors are required to wash their hands. Patients with MRSA are educated about ways to avoid spreading the infection when they leave the hospital.