Affinity Health System and ThedaCare convert to clear text emergency alerting system
Affinity and ThedaCare hospitals switch over from color code alert system to clear-text codes
01 / 16 / 2012
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Maria Nelson, Media Relations
Affinity Health System
(920) 720-1752
(920) 554-0686 (pager)
MENASHA, Wis. – Affinity Health System and ThedaCare have replaced their current color code emergency alert system with a clear text code system. The meaning of the color codes, which currently stand for emergency alerts such as severe weather, hazardous spills or security alerts, will now be verbalized in clear language.
The initiative was recommended by Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) to provide uniformity in Wisconsin hospital emergency codes. The new clear text system provides employees with the exact type of emergency happening, eliminating the guesswork of the alert meaning by staff and providing quicker response time to the problem.
“In collaboration with ThedaCare for the safety of our employees and the communities we jointly serve, we’re adopting the clear text system as recommended by WHA,” said Deb Cross, director of emergency management. “It is practical, clear and will keep consistency and accuracy for our employees and the patients we serve.”
“Implementing this system has increased awareness at all hospitals, which take the mystery out of what is needed to do during an emergency,” said Matt Digman, environmental safety officer with ThedaCare. “Staff who work in several health care systems now have the same process in all hospitals.”
All hospitals emergency processes will remain the same.
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For the Editor:
Affinity Health System, a faith-based regional health care network, is the Fox Valley’s second-largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry. For the fourth consecutive year, Affinity has been named one of the nation’s top 64 health systems based on clinical performance according to Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care. For ten consecutive years, Affinity Health System has been named to the SDI (formerly Verispan) Integrated Health Network Top 100, an annual assessment of the 100 most highly integrated health care networks in the nation. Both St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh rank among the top 1 percent of hospitals nationwide in terms of quality and efficiency, as determined by the 2007 Premier | CareScience Select practice National Quality Award. Members of Affinity include Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Health Foundation, Oshkosh; St. Elizabeth Hospital and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, Appleton; Affinity Medical Group, a regional network of 25 family practice and specialty clinics – 22 of which are recognized as NCQA Level III medical homes, the highest level of recognition – in 14 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; and Affinity Occupational Health.