UMMC ‘Jazzed for Patient Safety’ as Annual Celebration Kicks Off

Published on Monday, March 3, 2025

By: Rachel Vanderford, rvanderford@umc.edu

Photos By: Jay Ferchaud/ UMMC Communications

The University of Mississippi Medical Center is “Jazzed for Patient Safety” as it kicks off its annual Patient Safety Week celebration today. Running from March 3-6, Patient Safety Week 2025 will highlight UMMC’s 2024 achievements in patient safety with this year’s theme: Jazzed forPatient Safety. 

The event focuses on three key goals: raising awareness about the importance of safety, reinforcing that everyone at UMMC—regardless of their title—has a role in it, and recognizing the achievements and hard work departments and teams have accomplished over the past year. 

“Patient Safety Week is celebrated across the globe in March each year to bring awareness to patient safety and recognize the work that has already been done,” said Dr. Phyllis Bishop, chief and Paul Parker Chair of Pediatric Gastroenterology and chief quality officer. “Safety belongs to everyone. We each have a part in making our institution safer by reporting any concern or near miss through I-CARE. If you see something, say something. We can only address problems we know exist.” 

Medical Center units and departments have submitted 42 patient safety accomplishments for 2024, showcasing the dedication of frontline staff and hospital leadership in meeting the patient safety and patient experience goals set out in the Medical Center’s quality scorecard, available on the UMMC’s intranet. 

The scorecard tracks key quality metrics over time, including hospital-acquired infections, pressure injuries and patient falls. It also monitors hand hygiene compliance and patient experience ratings across the adult, critical care, women’s and children’s hospitals. 

“This is a great week to pause and reflect on our commitments to ensuring the safety and well-being of our patients and to acknowledge and celebrate the many accomplishments achieved over the past year,” said Kristin Kappler Hardy, director of nursing and hospital services at Children’s of Mississippi. 

“Together, we can create an environment where safety, trust and quality care are at the heart of everything we do."  

Monday and Thursday, hospital leaders will greet staff at the hospital entrances as they begin their shifts. The patient safety trivia cart parade will make its way through on campus units, offering employees the opportunity to spin the wheel for a chance to win prizes. 

To add to the festivities of the week, employees can enjoy a slice of King Cake in celebration of Mardi Gras on Tuesday, March 4. The celebration continues on Wednesday with a food truck festival in the Guyton Breezeway. 

Visit the parade route by the Office of Patient Experience to see who is Jazzed for Patient Safety. Leaders of select 2024 quality metrics will be represented as Mardi Gras floats and will drive down Canal Street as the week progresses. The top performer will be crowned this year’s Krewe champion. 

Agenda 

Monday, March 3 

• Hospital leaders will greet staff at each hospital entrance from 6:30 – 8:15 a.m. 

Tuesday, March 4 

• Patient Safety Cart Parade
• King Cake Slices:
  • 2 - 4 p.m. in the cafeteria overflow 
  • 9 - 10 p.m. in the Batson/Wiser connector and the Adult Critical Care elevators on the first floor  

Wednesday, March 5  

• Patient Safety Cart Parade
• Food Trucks:
  • 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Guyton Breezeway
    • Lagniappe Beignets (9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
    • Crooked Letter Kitchen, Cey Let’s Eat, T & J’s and Lagniappe Beignets
• King Cake Slices
  • 9 - 10 p.m. in the Batson and Wiser connector and the Adult Critical Care elevators on the first floor 

Thursday, March 6 

• Hospital leaders will greet staff at each hospital entrance from 6:30 – 8:15 a.m.
• Krewe Crowning Ceremony:
  • noon in the Office of Patient Experience hallway