Florida Governor Issues Proclamation During National Healthcare Qu...( ORLANDO Fla. Oct. 23 /- Florida G...),Health

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Governor Charlie Crist has issued a Proclamation recognizing the outstanding work Healthcare Quality Professionals do for the people of Florida. This proclamation mirrors the sentiments of National Healthcare Quality Week, October 19-25th, which celebrates the work of Healthcare Quality Professionals and pays tribute to their influence in achieving improved outcomes of patient care and improved function of healthcare delivery systems.

Healthcare Quality Professionals are driven by the desire to make a positive difference in the lives of their patients, co-workers, organizations and communities. Some of the healthcare quality initiatives going on in Florida include efforts to:
-- reduce community spread of antibiotic resistant infections through an

innovative community campaign "Clean Hands Are Cool Hands", designed

for children K-4, their teachers and parents, replete with activities,

lesson plans and a website -- launched in Tampa, Florida schools by

the HCA hospital system, now a nation-wide HCA initiative

-- reduce disparities in healthcare for minorities and non-English

speakers -- United Healthcare's Latino Health Initiative (recognized

by prestigious National Committee for Quality Assurance award for

Innovation in Multicultural Healthcare)

-- improve patient safety through special training of 500 staff members

to serve as Ambassadors for Patient Safety within their work

units -- Baptist Health South Florida

-- reduce door-to-doctor time in Emergency Departments throughout Florida

by sharing methodologies from their own successful quality initiatives

on the IHI website -- Florida Hospital Orlando

-- identify and understand the determinants of quality of health care for

the children of Florida through focus on health care disparities and

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