HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and Marshall Health Network hosted the 11th Annual Quality & Safety Summit yesterday at the Marshall University Medical Center.  

Faculty, resident physicians, fellows, medical students and other health care professionals including hospital employees showcased initiatives to enhance patient care, safety, and overall quality within their respective fields.   

“Our academic health system is dedicated to fostering innovation and excellence in healthcare practices,” said David Gozal, M.D., MBA, PhD (Hon), vice president of health affairs at Marshall University and dean of the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. Gozal was also this year’s keynote speaker.  

A judging panel reviewed poster presentations and recognized the following individuals and teams in these award categories:   

• Outstanding Quality Improvement (QI) Award 
  Acute Ischemic Stroke IV Thrombolytic Door-to-Needle Treatment Times Improvement Project: Christie Adkins, MSN, RN; Jenny Edwards; Christy Franklin; Mary Snodgrass MHN SMMC 
   
• Outstanding Patient Safety Award 
  MRSA Decolonization Protocol Strategies to Decrease Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus: Lillie Bower, MHN, SMMC  

• Outstanding Resident Safety Award 
  Easier to Breathe with the Pediatric Big Three 
  Meredith Garst, D.O.; Madison Anderson, M.D., Audra Pritt, M.D., Marshall Pediatrics 
   
• Outstanding Resident Quality Improvement Award 
  Implementing the Guidelines in a Non-Freestanding Children’s Hospital: An Evaluation of the Management of Well-appearing Febrile Infants 
  Jamie Vernor, D.O.; Hayley Weese, M.D.; Toni Stickley; Deborah Preston, BS, ACRP-CCRP; Matthew Nudelman, MD; Jacob T. Kilgore, M.D., MPH, Marshall Pediatrics 

• CMO’s Outstanding Interdisciplinary Team Project  
  Improving the Rate of Medicare Wellness Visits 
  Richard Conway, D.O.; Ashley Beaty, MSN, RN, BC; Michelle Peters, MAT; Courtney Wellman, M.D.; Adam M. Franks M.D.; Marshall Family Medicine & Information Technology 

• Vice Dean’s Award for Best Integrated/Sustainable QI Project 
  Hiding in the Haze II: Lung Cancer Screening in a Southeast Ohio Primary Care Clinic 
  Kaitlin VanHooser, D.O. PGY-2; Daniel Crow, M.D., PGY-3, Holzer Family Medicine 
   
• Frank D. Shuler M.D., PhD, Program Award 
  For Residency/Fellowship Program with the Most Poster Presentations 
  Marshall Family Medicine 

Additionally, the following projects were selected to present during the event:  

• The Role of the Clinical Quality Assurance Nurse: Obtaining Zero Patient Harm and Reducing CLABSI and CAUTI Infections 
  Kendra Eplion BSN, RN, Cabell Huntington Hospital
   
• Improving Mental Health Safety: Improving Screening in Student Athletes 
  Lindsay Parlee, M.D.; Pallavi Fnu, M.D.; Taylor Pearson, medical student; Vince Mora, D.O.; Kasey Stickler, M.D.; David Rupp, MD; Marshall Family Medicine 

• Retinopathy Screening Improvement for Diabetic Patients: A Resident led Quality Improvement Project 
  Flora Park, D.O.; Blue Cremeans, M.D.; Hannah Leport, M.D.; Tammy Lowe, RN; Amy Pack RN; Tammy Wilson, patient service representative; Michelle Peters, MAT; Adam M. Franks, M. D.; Marshall Health; Cabell Huntington Hospital 

Date Posted: Friday, March 15, 2024