Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority Board of Directors Names New Executive Director

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 7, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority Board of Directors named a new executive director, Regina M. Hoffman, formerly the director of the Authority's Patient Safety Liaison (PSL) program to lead the organization upon the retirement of its previous executive director last month.

"The Authority is pleased to announce Regina as its new executive director after a thorough search process that took a few months," Rachel Levine, MD, chair of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority Board of Directors said. "The choice makes the most sense given Regina's knowledge of the healthcare field the Authority must work with every day and her experience as director of the PSL program.

"Her grasp of the current programs the Authority is involved in as well as an eye toward the next strategic plan for the organization are just a couple of reasons the board decided she was best suited to take over the reins of the organization dedicated to improving patient safety within Pennsylvania's healthcare facilities," Levine added.  

As director of the PSL program, Hoffman managed eight PSLs placed regionally throughout the state to consult with Pennsylvania hospitals, ambulatory surgery facilities (ASFs), birthing centers and abortion facilities. Unique to Pennsylvania, the PSL works with healthcare facilities to ensure they have the educational resources they need to improve patient safety within their facilities.

"Working for the Authority through the PSL program has always been a rewarding experience that I think makes a real difference in Pennsylvania," Hoffman, RN, BSN, MBA, CPPS, executive director of the Authority said. "I look forward to using my expanded role with the Authority as executive director to continue the good work being done by the Authority as well as looking toward the future with new opportunities to improve patient safety within Pennsylvania's healthcare facilities."

Before joining the Authority, Hoffman worked at the Schuylkill Health System where she was the Patient Safety Officer and Administrative Director of Quality. In her senior management role, she oversaw the organization's safety and quality programs, including all pay-for-performance initiatives. During her tenure, Hoffman implemented the American Heart Association's "Get with the Guidelines" (GWTG) program for congestive heart failure resulting in Silver Plus and Gold Plus Achievement Awards for the health system.

Early in her career, Hoffman worked as director of Nursing for HCR Manor Care in Camp Hill, then for Pinnacle Health Skilled Nursing Facility at Seidle. She then worked for Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center as director of Risk Management and Patient Safety Officer before joining Schuylkill Health. She is a graduate of the Pottsville Hospital School of Nursing and is a certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management.

Hoffman resides with her family in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania. She is a 1994 graduate of the former Pottsville Hospital School of Nursing and is a Certified Professional in Patient Safety.  

Hoffman replaces, Michael C. Doering, MBA who held the interim executive director position since July, 2007 then executive director in November 2008. During Doering's tenure, the Authority grew as an organization with the PSL program, then a healthcare-associated infection (HAI) program where consultants are reaching Pennsylvania's healthcare facilities and nursing homes and putting a face to the Authority.

Doering also lead the Authority as it reached milestones with its reporting through the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS) and educational resources that include: over 2.5 million reports of Serious Events (events that harm the patient) and Incidents; over 500-safety focused articles published in the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory; Advisory articles credited with Pennsylvania healthcare facilities making over 4,500 structure and process improvements; more than 12,180 Advisory-based CME credits earned by healthcare professionals to date; and almost 40,000 healthcare workers educated through Authority programs.

"Michael's tenure with the Authority was admirable in that these consultant and educational programs are touching Pennsylvania's hospitals, ASFs and nursing homes like never before," Levine said. "The programs, along with its educational resources have made a difference to Pennsylvania's patients and I'm confident will continue under Regina's leadership."

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SOURCE Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority