Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority Hires Patient Safety Liaison to Help Healthcare Facilities Implemen...( The position will be based in the nor...),Health

The position will be based in the northwest region with more hires planned throughout the state within the next year

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority has hired a Patient Safety Liaison for the northwest region to help healthcare facilities that report through the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS) improve patient safety for Pennsylvania citizens.

The Patient Safety Liaison pilot program began last year in northeastern Pennsylvania. The program, according to the Authority's Director of Educational Programs, Fran Charney, has given the Authority and facilities a tremendous communication network to help improve patient safety.

"The Patient Safety Liaison (PSL) pilot program has been so successful in the northeast that facilities in other parts of the state are asking when they will get their PSL," Charney said. "The pilot program has given 'a face' to the Authority and with the PSO giving us the feedback we need to develop new educational programs we can meet the needs of our Patient Safety Officers and share analytical information to enhance patient safety in their facilities."

Richard Kundravi, of Sewickley, Pennsylvania has been hired as the northwest Patient Safety Liaison. Kundravi previously worked as the Director of Risk Management and Patient Safety Officer at UPMC McKeesport. In his role as Patient Safety Officer, he conducted educational sessions for failure mode and effects analysis, common cause analysis, root cause analysis (RCA) and just cause education. He also reorganized the complaint process at UPMC McKeesport resulting in a 35% increase in patient satisfaction with the timeliness of a complaint resolution.

Kundravi's other accomplishments include being named Risk Manager of the Year twice by the Western Pennsylvania Association of Healthcare Risk Management, where he served as pr
'/>"/>