FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Ellen Carlucci
Vice President, Development, Marketing and Communications
508-486-5807 or ellen.carlucci@umassmemorial.org
MARLBOROUGH – Marlborough Hospital has awarded the inaugural Helen Ferris Patient Safety Award to its Inpatient Psychiatric Unit.
The Inpatient Psychiatric Unit staff has developed very effective strategies to reduce the use of behavioral restraints on patients in the unit as well as institute a “culture change” for behavioral restraint use. The results have been dramatic with the department marking 257 days without the use of restraints.
The Helen Ferris Patient Safety Award was established by the Marlborough Hospital Board of Trustees as a way of recognizing a staff member, team or department for the ongoing commitment for keeping patients safe. The award is named after the late Helen Ferris, mother of Neil Ferris, former chair of the hospital’s board of trustees.
“It is so fitting that we bestow this award during National Patient Safety Awareness Week,” said Karen Moore, president and chief executive officer, at a luncheon honoring the staff. “The Inpatient Psychiatric Unit clearly demonstrates a commitment to patient safety and has engaged their co-workers, patients and family members by their creativity and innovation.”
Marlborough Hospital continues to be recognized for its commitment to patient safety. In 2009, the hospital was awarded the prestigious Betsy Lehman Award for safety recognition and in the fall of 2011 the hospital was presented with the prestigious Press Ganey Success Story Award for clinical performance.
Marlborough Hospital, a member hospital of UMass Memorial Health Care, has provided quality health care to the communities of the Route 495 Corridor since 1890.
Included in the photo are members of the Ferris family, the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit staff and Karen Moore.