Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/896860
LOOKING AFTER OUR to Quality and Safety DEDICATION THE COLUMBUS REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TEAM IS COMMITTED TO CONSTANTLY ENHANCING PATIENT CARE, AND IT SHOWS. Award-Wiing STUDENT ATHLETES A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN COLUMBUS REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND COLUMBUS COUNTY AND WHITEVILLE SCHOOLS WILL ENHANCE ATHLETIC TRAINING AND IMPROVE SAFETY. As concerns over sports safety increase, state concussion protocols have begun to require schools to have sports-medicine professionals on hand to attend to student athletes. Although there hasn't previously been funding for such a role, Whiteville City High School worked with CRHS to bring licensed athletic trainer Samantha Bass back to her alma mater. Bass graduated from Whiteville in 2012 and went on to get a bachelor's degree in athletic training from Barton College while also playing softball. "I heard about this opportunity and wanted to come back home to be with my siblings," she says. "The fact that we now have a certified professional to handle injuries is huge," says David Smith, athletic director at Whiteville High School. "She will be at every football practice and game, and she will help with other sports and visit the middle school when she can." Bass is assisted by a student at the high school who attended a training symposium to learn taping skills and athletic-training basics. Whiteville High School hopes to introduce a class, taught by Bass, for other students who are interested in becoming trainers. In addition, Bass will work at CRHS during the summer months when local schools are closed. Columbus Regional has also partnered with the Columbus County School System to support first responders, whom the county uses at sporting events to oversee the safety of area athletes. With the hospital's support, the schools will be able to offer more education and training to the responders. "Our hospital is an integral part of the entire county, and we want to do everything we can possibly do to have a healthier community," says Carla Hollis, president and CEO of CRHS. "We don't differentiate between the city and the county; we believe that we are united in a desire to make Columbus County the very best it can be." Does your child need a sports physical for an upcoming season? Contact Southeast Pediatrics at 910-640-4064. The Touchstone Award is an honor given to hospitals that actively and effectively take steps to improve the care and safety of their patients, and this year our team was recognized with the Bronze Award for an abstract entitled "The Sepsis Initiative — A Path to Improving Outcomes for the Critically Ill Patient." When not treated in a proper or timely manner, patients with sepsis are at a higher risk for mortality. We focused our abstract on the critical nature of the subject matter, described our goals and improvement process, and shared the results of our work. "Applying for this award annually allows us to communicate best practices within the facilities that are part of the Carolinas HealthCare System," says Rebecca Jernigan, RN, BSN, ACM, director of Care Management and Quality Management for CRHS. "Everyone on our team—from physicians to nurses and other frontline staff members—are dedicated to providing high-quality care to our local communities to ensure patients receive timely treatment that promotes positive outcomes." For the latest news about other awards and CRHS events, visit crhealthcare.org. 6 CRHEALTHCARE.ORG More an a Hpital