Ximedica to Support Kent Hospital with Woods Institute

Michael J. Woods Institute Announced for Kent Hospital

Story by Chris Boardman (ABC6)

Dec. 1, 2009

From Loss Emerges Hope: New Michael J. Woods Institute at Kent Hospital to Focus on Redesigning Care

Investment in the redesign of care delivery system announced in conjunction with settlement in Michael Woods case

Warwick, RI, December 1, 2009 - Kent Hospital and James Woods today announced the creation of The Michael J. Woods Institute at Kent Hospital. The institute will focus on redesigning healthcare systems using a human centered approach to improve clinical outcomes.

The creation of the new institute comes at the conclusion of the Michael Woods case, which was settled out of court under undisclosed terms.

The hospital will invest $1,250,000 over the next five years to redesign the care process beginning in the emergency department. These efforts will be supported by Ximedica, a firm with 25 years experience in human centered design employing the expertise of researchers, engineers, social scientists and medical professionals. This unique approach will create models that can be adopted by other hospitals across the country.

"Human errors in the healthcare setting occur for a number of reasons, but at the root of many of them is poor communication. These weaknesses in the delivery system will only be eradicated when the human factor is considered in designing the solution," said Sandra Coletta, President and Chief Executive Officer at Kent Hospital. "We know we're not perfect at Kent Hospital. Mistakes were made. We can do better. The Michael J. Woods Institute will help establish a leadership role in promoting patient safety and developing new ways to improve the patient experience and clinical outcomes."

The leadership of the institute will be comprised of an oversight panel, including a representative from the Michael Woods family, external experts and hospital clinical leaders. A patient safety officer, trained by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement will coordinate the efforts on behalf of the institute on a daily basis. However, everyone involved made clear that this is much more than a new department or leadership role within the hospital.

The human-centered approach is founded in the belief that a hospital is a more dynamic environment than that expressed by any linear flowchart or regulated measures and metrics. Risks for system-safety breakdown exist in the non-linear way that humans actually execute tasks; interact with each other, their tools and their environment. The work of the institute will be to identify risk-prone elements and implement innovative, risk-mitigating solutions.

"The experience of my brother Michael Woods shines a light on what can occur in any institution where individuals are called upon to make life and death decisions while facing the most challenging conditions," said James Woods. "We are pleased to take an active role in creating new, innovative approaches to hospital and emergency care. We hope that this partnership can help save other families from suffering the loss that we suffered - even one precious life would ensure that his life was not lost in vain."

"Ensuring comprehensive high quality care for the citizens of Kent County is critical," said Coletta. "We are pleased the Woods family has agreed to join our efforts with the creation of The Michael J. Woods Institute at Kent Hospital. Michael Woods was committed to the community and his memory will be honored through this effort."

Said Woods, "This remarkable action of accountability has turned a bitter event into a landmark opportunity for hope."

Kent Hospital, A Care New England Hospital, is a 359-bed, nonprofit, acute care hospital serving approximately 300,000 residents of Warwick, West Warwick, East Greenwich, West Greenwich, Coventry and parts of North Kingstown, Exeter and Cranston, Rhode Island. Kent Hospital has more than 2,300 employees, a medical staff of more than 600, a volunteer corps of 250 and 350 auxilians.