Our Commitment to Quality and Safety
Our Goal: Zero Preventable Harm
Through a culture of safety, leadership accountability, continuous learning, and evidence-based practices, Kootenai Health is committed to eliminating preventable injuries, infections, medication errors, and other avoidable patient harms.
How We Are Improving Care
Preventing Patient Falls
Falls can result in serious injury and prolonged recovery. Kootenai Health uses evidence-based fall prevention practices, including patient risk assessments, individualized safety plans, staff education, and patient engagement strategies designed to reduce falls and injuries.
Reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections
Our infection prevention teams work closely with physicians, nurses, and caregivers to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections. Efforts include hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, device and antibiotic stewardship, surveillance, and implementation of nationally recognized prevention practices.
Medication Safety
Kootenai Health continually evaluates medication-use processes to ensure medications are prescribed, dispensed, and administered safely. Clinical teams use technology, standardized practices, and ongoing review processes to support medication safety.
Safe Surgical Care
Our surgical teams follow evidence-based practices designed to improve outcomes and reduce complications. Standardized protocols, safety checklists, and multidisciplinary teamwork help deliver safe, reliable surgical care.
Improving Care Transitions
Effective care does not end when a patient leaves the hospital. Kootenai Health focuses on discharge planning, patient education, care coordination, and follow-up support to help patients recover successfully and avoid preventable readmissions.
Our Current Quality Priorities
Kootenai Health continuously evaluates opportunities to improve care. Current organizational priorities include:
- Reducing falls with injury
- Reducing healthcare-associated infections
- Enhancing care transitions and recovery after hospitalization
- Advancing patient and family experience
- Supporting a culture of safety across the organization
Transparency and Accountability
We believe patients should have access to information that helps them make informed healthcare decisions. Kootenai Health participates in national quality reporting programs and independent evaluations that provide information about hospital quality, safety, and patient outcomes.
Independent Quality Information – here we would include the links
Learn more from these independent organizations:
These organizations provide publicly available information regarding hospital quality, patient safety, accreditation, and patient experience.
