Patient Safety Working Committees

The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety is pleased to collaborate with leading healthcare and patient safety experts from the US and around the world. With their help and guidance, we are able to develop clinical recommendations, create safety checklists, and craft position statements on critical issues of patient safety and quality of patient care.

In particular, PPAHS would like to thank members of the following working committees:

Respiratory Standard of Care

The Enhanced Respiratory Care Standards Review Committee makes best practice recommendations on the standards long-term care facilities should follow when caring for patients receiving prolonged mechanical ventilation. These Enhanced Respiratory Care Standards will form the basis for a new accreditation of healthcare facilities so that patients and their families will be able to recognize facilities that meet national standards.

Members of this committee:

  • Thomas M. Fuhrman, MD, MMSc, FCCP Chief of Anesthesia, Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Healthcare System – Tampa Bay, Florida
  • Clyde Heflin MD, FACCP – Pulmonologist – Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Pam Clayton RN, LNHA – VP Quality, Regulatory Affairs at GA Health Care Association
  • Carrie Ermshar MBA, LNHA – Senior Care Executive Consultant, Houston, Texas
  • William Beal RRT, Massachusetts Board of Respiratory Care – Norwell, Massachusetts
  • Lisa Zaenger RRT, VP of Staffing at PEL/VIP – Oak Lawn, Illinois
  • Zachary Gantt RRT, FAARC, President and CEO Encore HealthCare – Livingston, Tennessee

To read more about this committee, please see this press release.

The PCA Safety Checklist Panel 

The PCA Safety Checklist summarizes information about the characteristics of patients at higher risk for oversedation and respiratory depression

  • Helps to ensure that patients have been appropriately educated about their pain management before using a (patient-controlled analgesia)PCA pump
  • Reminds healthcare providers of potential red flags
  • Makes sure the patient is electronically monitored with both pulse oximetry and capnography
  • Provides guidance on assessment and pump settings verification at shift change

For the members of the PCA Safety Checklist Panel, please click here.

The OB VTE Safety Working Group

The OB VTE Safety Recommendations provide four concise steps that:

  • Assess patients for VTE risk with an easy to use automated scoring system
  • Provide the recommended prophylaxis regimen, depending on whether the mother is antepartum or postpartum.
  • Reassesses the patient every 24 hours or upon the occurrence of a significant event, like surgery.
  • Ensures that the mother is provided appropriate VTE prevention education upon hospital discharge.

For the members of the OB VTE Safety Working Group, please click here.

The Stroke VTE Safety Working Group

The Stroke VTE Safety Recommendations provide 4 key steps to help prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in stroke patients:

  • Assess Patients With Stroke or Rule Out Stroke Diagnosis
  • Prescribe Recommended Prophylaxis
  • Reassess Patients for Venous Thromboembolism Risk
  • Ensure Appropriate Discharge

For the healthcare experts on the Stroke VTE Working Group, please click here.