Page 30 - Healthcare News Mar/Apr 2022

Mercy Medical Center Colleagues Celebrate Grade ‘A’ Safety Score
SPRINGFIELD — Mercy Medical Center colleagues gathered in the Deliso Conference Center throughout the day
on March 17 to celebrate the hospital’s third consecutive Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade of ‘A’ for fall 2021. With a St. Patrick’s Day-themed event, colleagues received long-sleeve T-shirts that marked the achievement and enjoyed sweet treats. They were also congratulated and thanked for their efforts by members of Mercy’s executive leadership team.
Leapfrog is a national distinction in which most hospitals participate across the U.S. by submitting safety data to Leapfrog for assessment. This ‘A’ score recognizes Mercy Medical Center’s achievements in providing patients a safe environment of care and protecting patients by demonstrating a high level of safety protocols.
“Receiving a third consecutive ‘A’
safety grade from Leapfrog is not only an unprecedented accomplishment, it also demonstrates Mercy’s strong, across- the-board commitment to our patients, a commitment that permeates every level
of our organization, from leadership, affiliated and employed primary-care providers and specialists, hospital-based providers, to all support staff. We are very grateful for this team effort,” said Deborah Bitsoli, president of Mercy Medical Center and Trinity Health Of New England Medical Group.
Michelle Theroux, board chair for Mercy Medical Center, also attended the event to greet colleagues and show her support. “I’m thrilled to celebrate this ex- traordinary milestone with everyone here
From left, Geoffrey Hoyt, chief development officer, Mercy Medical Center; Michelle Theroux, chair of the Board of Trustees at Mercy; Deborah Bitsoli, president, Mercy Medical Center and Trinity Health of New England Medical Group; and Susan Pettorini-D’Amico, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, chief nursing officer at Mercy Medical Center.
at Mercy. The third consecutive ‘A’ safety grade from Leapfrog is clear evidence of our overarching dedication to high-quali- ty care and patient safety,” she said.
Although Sr. Mary Caritas was unable to attend the event, she sent along her best wishes. “Congratulations to all Mercy col- leagues on this tremendous achievement,” the former Mercy Medical Center presi-
dent wrote. “While patient safety is always a critical element to high-quality patient care, it became especially vital with the additional burden of protecting patients and staff from the ravages of COVID-19. You all clearly met the challenge, and this third consecutive ‘A’ grade is truly a cause for rejoicing. On behalf of the Sisters of Providence, thank you and know that we
are proud of every one of you.”
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is
the only hospital-rating program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harm to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.
WNE PharmD Class of 2021 Exceeds State, National Exam Averages
SPRINGFIELD — The Western New England Uni- versity (WNE) College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences announced that the graduates of the PharmD class of 2021 have achieved a pass rate of 91.5% on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and an 86.6% pass rate on the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE).
“The NAPLEX first-time pass rate of 91.5% significantly exceeds that of the state and national rate, 78% and 83.6%, respectively. This is the fourth consecutive year our pass rates have topped both state and national results,” said Dr. John Pezzuto, professor and dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. “Our in-state MPJE pass rate of 86.6% also exceeds other Massachusetts programs’ in-state pass rate of 73.5%, and national in-state pass rates of 80.3%.”
The NAPLEX was developed by the National Assoc.
of Boards of Pharmacy for use by the state boards of pharmacy as part of their criteria for assessing candidates’ competence to practice pharmacy. The exam is taken by recent college of pharmacy graduates shortly after they
receive their degree and is designed to evaluate general practice knowledge.
Required as a prerequisite for a pharmacy license in Massachusetts, the MPJE is a pharmacy-law examination created by the National Assoc. of Boards of Pharmacy to help individual state boards of pharmacy assess the com- petency and knowledge of pharmacy law.
“The graduates of the PharmD class of 2021 have dem- onstrated superior performance in their passage of the NAPLEX and MPJE examinations,” Pezzuto said. “This clearly reflects the caliber of student attracted to WNE, the notable curriculum, and the excellent instruction and preparation offered by our faculty and staff.”
The WNE College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences also recently announced the launch of a new full-time, online distance pathway for new first-year professional students to allow them to pursue a career in pharmacy remotely with a minimal on-campus commitment.
Offered as a high-quality online alternative to the campus-based doctor of pharmacy program, the PharmD distance pathway will allow students to pursue a career
in pharmacy from anywhere and with more flexibility to meet life’s demands.
“The role of the pharmacist is changing,” said Beth Welch, senior associate dean for Academic Programs. “The Western New England University doctor of phar- macy program prepares students to be a part of that future. This is an ideal program for the self-motivated student, who will work through the same curriculum as our campus-based program.”
The new program joins the college’s two new master of science degree offerings in pharmacogenomics and phar- maceutical sciences, and an accelerated pathway for high- school graduates to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a doctor of occupational therapy degree within six years.
Pending approval from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences will offer the PharmD distance pro- gram beginning in the fall of 2022. Should the program not receive ACPE approval, admitted students will be offered a seat in the campus program.
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