Specializing in one and two day risk and quality assessment services

Service Overview

We all know how important periodic checkups can be to our health. The checkup can either affirm our health or give us a warning about an impending crisis. The same holds true for our perfusion practices. Every once in a while, it is necessary to take a step back and look at what we do from a fresh perspective. In doing so, our eyes are opened to issues not seen before and opportunities to make a good thing better.

Perfusion Quality Services^tm is able to assist the perfusion team in analyzing the safety and efficiency of their perfusion practices and techniques, pinpointing opportunities for risk reduction within clinical practice. We can also assist the team in establishing proper documentation, policies and procedures, quality measures and compliance to regulatory mandates.

You may benefit from our services if...

You would like an outside set of eyes to offer an informed analysis of your practice.
You would like someone to steer you in the right direction in establishing a quality management program.
You just need to bounce around some ideas about your approach to quality management and risk reduction.
You have no written policies and procedures.
You need to update the policies and procedures that you do have.
You have never defined the parameters within which you are to practice.
You have been not been effectively communicating quality data to administration, surgeons, and other concerned parties.
You have not been successful in establishing a team approach to process improvement and quality assessment.
You would like some help in establishing a multi-disciplinary approach to quality initiatives such as peri-operative blood management.
You are not sure if you comply with regulatory measures such as JCAHO and AABB standards.
You would like someone to actually develop a quality management program for you.
You would like periodic assessments of perfusion records and compliance to standards.
You would like comparative reports on the practice patterns of individuals in the group.
You would like assistance in performing competency assessments.
You would like to provide your group or client hospital with an informative and entertaining "pep talk" on reducing error in high risk environments.

Who will provide the help you need?

Rebekah Trittipoe has been a perfusionist since 1984, having graduated from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, School of Allied Medical Professions Circulation Technology program. Utilizing the skills developed from a first career of teaching, she has steadily held many leadership and educational roles within the national AmSECT organization (American Society of Extracorporeal Technology). In 1990, she joined SETA, Inc, a contract perfusion company hailing at that time from Mobile, Alabama, organizing the locum tenens services and becoming the Director of Continuing Education and Quality Management. In that role, Ms. Trittipoe was given the responsibility of writing clinical policy and procedure manuals for each client hospital. Additionally, practice guidelines were established and compliance measured for each perfusionist. The Practical Handbook of Quality Improvement, Quality Control and Risk Management For Perfusion resulted, being copyrighted in 1990 and made available for purchase to the perfusion public.

Ms. Trittipoe continued her involvement in quality issues, conducting numerous seminars and lecturing on the subject. She was even invited to address quality issues in Europe, traveling to Belgium to speak to the 6^th European Congress of ExtraCorporeal Technology. However, no matter the venue, the emphasis was always on a very practical approach to quality issues. One did not have to be a chief perfusionist or statistical wizard to benefit from her instruction.

When Rebekah joined Applied Extracorporeal Technologies, Inc. in 1992, she brought with her the clinical and quality expertise she had espoused for years. The practice in Lynchburg, VA benefited from this for over eleven years. Extensive databases were maintained with precision and specific data collected and analyzed to address various clinical questions that had arisen. Perfusion, surgical, and anesthesia practices changed in response to the data, optimizing practice. It was a demonstration that “evidence-based medicine” is not reserved for the large, university-based hospitals. Rather, evidence-based medicine can be a reality even in the smaller community hospital.

In 2003, Rebekah left the practice to pursue her interest in consulting and educational development. In the following years, she was able to assist clients in writing policy and procedure manuals and establishing quality measurement processes. Additionally, as a consultant to AmSECT in the role of National Director of Continuing Medical Education, Ms. Trittipoe established the electronic format of "AmSECT Presents", a CD-ROM venue offering synchronized scientific lectures and corresponding PowerPoint presentations. She also had the responsibility of overseeing all face-to-face medical meetings, serving as lecturer in many of those conferences.

2006 was the beginning of Rebekah's association with Trident Health Resources, Inc where she served as the Director of Quality Management and Professional Education. During her tenure, she oversaw the development and implementation of Neptune^tm, a proprietary database used to track clinical events, measure quality indicators and benchmark clinical results between client hospitals. She was also able to utilize her masters degree in education, e-learning technology and design, to effectively develop a website used to communicate key information, educational offerings, and direct work on the revision and updating of policies and procedures. Rebekah also had the opportunity to consult to both Trident hospitals and outside clients in the establishment of AABB compliant peri-operative blood management and utilization programs.

Ms. Trittipoe has developed a keen interest in the relationship between the use of advanced technology and the concomitant increased risk for error and accidents. Her research over the last number of years has resulted in a powerful yet entertaining multi-hour seminar as she compares industrial examples with perfusion-specific examples of error and accident.

In early 2007, Rebekah successfully completed the classroom portion of the AABB assessor training in the peri-operative autologous blood collection and administration area. She is now a volunteer assessor for the AABB for the area of peri-operative standards. This background further equips Ms. Trittipoe in her ability to assist the client in establishing sound practice, documentation of process and compliance to AABB standards.

Since the fall of 2007, Ms. Trittipoe continues her efforts in perfusion quality assessment as a private contractor. In February of 2008, she was inducted into the Biltmore Who's Who Registry of Executives and Professionals.

To learn more about Rebekah and her background, training, and experiences, click on the following link.

Rebekah Trittipoe - Complete Professional History

What services can be provided?

The services that can be provided by Perfusion Quality Services^tm are many. Each client receives a custom designed slate of services. The client dictates the breadth and depth of service based on their specific needs and budgetary restraints. For many clients, an initial consultation of one or two days may be sufficient to "kick-start" necessary activities. However, other clients may desire a turnkey program, requiring a much greater time and resource commitment.

Regardless of how small or large your need, Perfusion Quality Services^tm can assist you in achieving your goals and optimizing your practice.

While the list of services below should not be considered all-inclusive, the range of services may include the following:

Assist in writing/updating policy and procedure manuals
Assist in defining standards of practice
Assessment of the over-all safety of perfusion circuits, procedures and techniques
Identify areas of opportunity for risk reduction
Develop means to assess compliance to standards of practice
Track and analyze compliance rates for the department and/or individuals
Analysis of perfusion records and documentation patterns
Development of monthly quality reports pertaining to compliance issues
Track other relevant clinical data. For example, blood usage, surgeon-specific data, time efficiencies, cardioplegia intervals, heart temperatures, fibrillation rates, etc.
Analysis of peri-operative blood management procedures
Compliance of the peri-operative blood management program to AABB standards
Offer suggestions for increasing compliance to standards
Offer suggestions for increasing overall safety and efficacy of perfusion department
Group seminars appropriate for perfusionists, nurses, physicians, and administrators on risk, errors, and accidents.
Monthly, quarterly, or yearly on-site visits/consultations/analysis
Staff competency analysis

What will I have to show for the work?

That depends on the services that you will require. However, you will always be provided with a thorough, written report of findings, synopsis of work completed, and a precise accounting of time spent for billing purposes.

What will it cost?

The cost of doing business will vary according to the extent of services desired. There are standard packages designed for the one and two day assessment packages by which the guesswork is taken out of the contract process. Other services are billed either on an hourly, daily or weekly basis, whichever is appropriate. Discounts are available on contracts for services extending five or more days. In all cases, clients have the ability to tailor the services rendered based on needs and resource availability.

Perfusion Quality Services^tm is committed to working with you so that you can avail yourself of the services you require. We will make every reasonable attempt to provide service to you when you want it, how you want it and where you want it.

Please contact Rebekah at 434-238-2118 or e-mail rtrittipoe@aol.com for a complete breakdown of costs for various services.