Delmarva executes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) National Patient Safety Initiative (NPSI) in the District of Columbia. Delmarva addresses patient safety for Medicare Beneficiaries by improving health care processes and systems in the following areas:

Delmarva focuses its quality improvement efforts on reducing the rate of health care-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), reducing rates of pressure ulcers in nursing homes and hospitals, and reducing rates of use of physical restraints in nursing homes.

In addition, Delmarva works to improve inpatient surgical safety and heart failure treatment in District of Columbia hospitals, improve drug safety, and provide quality improvement technical assistance to nursing homes in need.

Under the NPSI, Delmarva supports the development of an “all-teach, all-learn” community. Delmarva has identified two individuals to serve as National Quality Improvement Leaders, who will serve as liaisons between Delmarva senior leadership and the work that is occurring at the patient care level in the District of Columbia. The leaders come together up to three times per year to share practices that are proving to be successful at the local level.

The collaborative approach is an important function Delmarva carries out to support providers to make bold improvements in patient safety. District of Columbia providers commit to learn from each other and put in place the best practices that can save lives, reduce pain and suffering while also lowering costs.

For more information on this initiative please contact Janet Robinson, Director, Quality Improvement Programs, jrobinson@dfmc.org, 1-800-937-3362 ext. 2644.