Area hospitals take part in safety forum

By Staff
Melissa Dozier-Cason, FCT staff writer
Representatives from Russellville Hospital and Red Bay Hospital attended the Alabama Hospital Quality and Patient Safety Forum last month.
The Alabama Hospital Association, Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Alabama, and AQAF hosted the event, Michael Jones, Director of Communications for AQAF, said.
The forum brought together hospital executives and medical staff leaders to discuss quality improvement activities. The goal of the forum was to heighten awareness and importance of quality improvement and patient safety in Alabama, Keith Granger, chairman of the Alabama Hospital Association Quality Task Force, said.
Pam Welborn, Quality and Performance/ Director of Medical Records for Russellville Hospital, and Belinda Johnson, Director of Nursing at Russellville Hospital, attended the forum. Wellborn is also a member of the Alabama Hospital Association Quality Task Force, and travels monthly to Montgomery to participate on the committee.
Red Bay Hospital also sent representatives, according to the AQAF.
Attendance for the forum was greater than the inaugural event last January.
The attendance show interest and commitment among the state's hospitals to improving quality of care and safety, Jeff Ingrum, vice president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, said.