The Georgia Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA), a subsidiary of the Georgia Hospital Association, awarded Grady General Hospital third place in a state-wide competition for a patient safety project implemented in the GGH pharmacy.

In 2009, the GGH pharmacy implemented a process that would allow nursing staff to administer patient medications in a more timely manner. Collaborative efforts lead by GGH Pharmacy Manager Lesley Upton, PharmD, and Crystal Ramm, R.N., Director of Nursing, resulted in meeting GGH's goal of relocating medications from the pharmacy to the automated medication dispensing machines located in patient care areas.

 "Grady General Hospital is committed to patient safety and is constantly searching for areas of patient care where quality and safety may be improved upon," said Ramm. "Our new pharmacy guidelines allow us to meet requirements of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and The Joint Commission while protecting our patients even more."

Excert from January 14, 2011 This Week at Archbold Press Release