Allegheny Health Network Ambulatory Surgery Centers Recognized by Patient Safety Authority

PITTSBURGH, PA – Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN), Bethel Park Health & Wellness Pavilion, Monroeville Surgery Center, Wexford Health & Wellness Pavilion and Allegheny Health Network Endoscopy Center in Westmoreland have been  recognized by the Patient Safety Authority with their 2021 I AM Patient Safety award in the Ambulatory Surgery Center Division. AHN is one of 11 healthcare networks from across Pennsylvania that were recognized for their capabilities,  outcomes and commitment to patient safety.

Since its inception in 2013, the I AM Patient Safety awards have honored hundreds of programs and individuals taking action to positively impact patient safety. Judged by a cross-section of national and regional healthcare executives and patient advocates from the government and higher education sectors, the I AM Patient Safety awards recognize programs that demonstrate innovation, impact, sustainability and scalability as well as inclusion of the patient in the initiative.

Teamwork, multi-tasking, and a ‘no task is too small’ attitude among staff set the AHN Ambulatory Surgery Centers apart from others, according to Karen Maloney, Vice President of Network Ambulatory Surgical Centers. “All staff know they are valued for the critical roles they play in helping drive high-quality, patient-centered care,, It takes every team member from our execeptional physicians and nurses, to our environmental services staff who make the space inviting for patients, to the administrative support staff who help keep our operations running smoothly, to our working managers who pitch in whenever and wherever they are needed,” said Maloney.

The AHN Surgery Centers routinely score top marks for patient satisfaction, largely due to the proficiency, camaraderie and compassion demonstrated by the care team, which patients see—and feel, Maloney said. “The goal is that each and every patient who chooses our surgery program feels as though they are the only one receiving the care and attention of the entire surgical team.”

Ambulatory Surgical Centers are heavily regulated with stringent guidelines in place to ensure patients are kept safe. “It can be extremely challenging to meet these high standards, but we never lose focus  and  we take great pride that 2020 was a deficiency-free year across all of our free-standing ASC’s,” said Maloney.

“There is a deep level of trust that comes with the patient about to undergo surgery. The whole concept of having an operation or procedure can be disarming, and our ASC staff treat that vulnerability with great respect,” said Dr. Sricharan Chalikonda, Chief of Clinical Operations for AHN. “They are very deserving of this award and should be proud of the outstanding work they do and the positive impact they have on our patients.”

“We often focus on the problems in healthcare: the errors, the system breakdowns, and the harm caused to patients,” said Patient Safety Authority executive director, Regina Hoffman. “This is a chance for us to celebrate the things that go right each day in healthcare to make our patients safer and to honor the individuals and staffs who not only care, but also are taking action to improve outcomes.”

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