News Releases
University of Maryland School of Nursing Associate Professor Named to Council on Patient Safety in Women's Health Care
April 22, 2014
Baltimore, Md. –Joseph E. Pellegrini, PhD, CRNA, associate professor and director of the Nurse Anesthesia specialty at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been appointed to the Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Health Care. The Council’s mission is to improve patient safety in women’s health care through multidisciplinary collaboration that drives culture change.
A unique consortium that champions women’s health, the Council consists of 14 member organizations that have teamed to promote safe health care for women. The Council seeks to better understand the causes of harm during care and to disseminate patient safety information. Through fostering programs and tools that implement safety initiatives, and by encouraging a health care culture of respect, transparency, and accountability, the number of patients harmed during care is expected to decrease.
“Rates of severe maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States are increasing and are now at levels twice as high as those in Western Europe. To address this, the National Partnership for Maternal Safety was formed to develop patient evidenced-based safe practice guidelines to improve patient outcomes,” Pellegrini said. “I am honored to be asked to serve on this Council and am looking forward to the opportunity to make a difference in the promotion of patient safety in women’s health care.”
Pellegrini, the only Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist serving on the Council, is also a member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, which is a supporting organization of the consortium. The Council has been diligently working to improve the safety of women’s health care since 2011.
“Providing safe and effective health services to women is a very serious issue. Dr. Pellegrini’s selection to the Council is a great opportunity for him to continue to make a difference in this arena,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “I am confident that he will be an asset to the Council as it continues to make strides in providing safer care for women.”
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The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.