In 2005, the Betsy Lehman Center established the Betsy Lehman Patient Safety Recognition Award to honor leadership and innovation in patient safety, for the promotion of public awareness and education, and the development of systems-based solutions through the implementation of best practices. Each year a particular theme or specific focus in patient safety is selected and tied to the award. Eligible nominees include health care facilities, organizations and individuals and self-nominations are welcome.

The theme of the 2009 award highlighted those who could best demonstrate a culture of safety throughout their organization/facility with specific respect to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) (see Nomination Form below).

The Betsy Lehman Center is pleased to acknowledge and congratulate the 2009 recipients of the Betsy Lehman Patient Safety Recognition Award:

  • The Division of Cardiac Surgery, UMass Memorial Medical Center for its team's efforts to successfully reduce HAIs through system wide planning, collaboration, communication, and evidence-based actions; and

  • Marlborough Hospital for encouraging a culture of safety and implementation of several hospital wide initiatives to improve in the reduction of HAIs.

Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach presented the awards at a ceremony held during a meeting of the Public Health Council on January 13, 2010.

In addition, "Certificates of Merit" were bestowed on Lahey Clinic's Infection Control Program, Massachusetts General Hospital's Central Line Infection Reduction Workgroup and Children's Hospital Boston's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for their dedicated work in targeting the control of HAIs.

2009 Nomination Form

Photos

DPH Commissioner John Auerbach with the team from the Division of Cardiac Surgery at UMass Memorial Medical Center
DPH Commissioner John Auerbach with the team from the Division of Cardiac Surgery at UMass Memorial Medical Center

DPH Commissioner John Auerbach with the team from Marlborough Hospital
DPH Commissioner John Auerbach with the team from Marlborough Hospital

This information is provided by the Betsy Lehman for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction within the Department of Public Health.