Perioperative charge nurse receives Botsford Hospital's Safety Award

Botsford Hospital has named White Lake Township resident Kim Dymond-Oryszczak, RN, as a recipient of its Safety Award. Botsford's Safety Award recognizes employees' contributions to the hospital's safety initiatives. Safety is a pillar on which Botsford has built its clinical care. 
 
As a charge nurse in Botsford Hospital's Pre-Operative and Post-Anesthesia Care Units, Dymond-Oryszczak identified a potential safety risk. She discovered no consistent way to alert staff when a patient's arm or leg required extra care or should not be used for medical procedures. For example, a patient who has had lymph nodes removed---many breast cancer patients---must avoid having needles and blood pressure cuffs used on the affected arm. There would be a risk of lymphedema, which is a painful swelling and inflammation. 
 
Dymond-Oryszczak researched and identified a nationally recognized "Limb Alert" pink armband. She recommended its use in Botsford's Surgical Services Department. She also developed a policy for the pink armband's use throughout the hospital. This armband visually alerts the staff about patients at risk, helping to avoid complications as they transition through different levels of care.  
 
This nurse's passion for patient safety allowed her to see beyond the hospital's current practice to make a significant process improvement, which has led to a safer environment for Botsford's patients.

Botsford Hospital is a multi-specialty 330 bed hospital and verified trauma center located in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The campus also houses an imaging center and a comprehensive carecancer center. Botsford Hospital is also home to an extensive medical education program and is part of Michigan State University's statewide campus system. Botsford Hospital each year cares for approximately 16,000 inpatients and more than 60,000 emergency and trauma patients with a team of2,500 employees, 300 volunteers and more than 600 physicians. A not-for-profit hospital, Botsford provided almost $10.5 million in community benefit during its 2011 fiscal year.