POTSDAM -- Canton-Potsdam Hospital has joined the New York State Partnership for Patients (NYSPFP), a statewide quality improvement initiative involving more than 170 hospitals and aimed at improving quality and patient safety by reducing complications and avoidable readmissions.

“Patients should leave the hospital safe in the knowledge that they will not be returning due to a hospital-acquired infection or other avoidable condition,” said David Acker, CPH CEO. “A partnership of this nature brings a wealth of resources to the table and allows for a more coordinated and comprehensive effort among all those with a stake in patient care. We are excited to embark on this partnership with our peers throughout the State.”

NYSPFP, a joint project of the Healthcare Association of New York State and Greater New York Hospital Association, is part of a national initiative, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Partnership for Patients, which seeks to reduce hospital-acquired conditions and preventable readmissions.

NYSPFP has invited key New York State health care stakeholders including regulators, consumers, clinicians, health insurers, hospital trustees, and others to contribute to NYSPFP's statewide success.

NYSPFP will build upon existing quality improvement programs at hospitals across the state, focusing on key clinical areas as well as hospital leadership and culture, to support New York State hospitals as they continually strive to provide safe, high-quality care and improve outcomes.

“We look forward to the collaboration, cohesiveness and “best practice” sharing in this partnership with The Healthcare Association of New York State and Greater New York Hospital Association to reduce hospital-acquired conditions and preventable readmissions,” said Sue Hodgson, vice-president of quality, performance improvement and patient safety. “We have ten team leaders identified in all focus areas and have already begun the first project, “Assessing our Culture of Patient Safety.”

As the CMS Partnership for Patients Hospital Engagement Network for New York State, NYSPFP is responsible for providing participating hospitals with intensive technical assistance, training opportunities, educational programming, and establishing mechanisms to measure and evaluate hospital progress on key clinical and process measures.