The Five Guiding Principles
1. Advancing Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
1IGS assists patients who are participating in monitoring and reporting their progress on continuously improving the quality of care and patient safety. It provides proven patient safety strategies and best practices to guide healthcare organizations in improving their processes and outcomes of care.
2. Making Healthcare Data and Performance Measures Transparent and Publicly Available
Hospitals and home care agencies participating in 1IGS are committed to a common framework to assess and report healthcare quality. Since 2007, hospitals have been publicly reporting the same patient-sensitive, evidence-based measures selected from the National Quality Forum (NQF).
Fostering Inclusion and Equity
3. Empowering Patients and Families in their Healthcare Choices
1IGS places important healthcare information in the hands of consumers, serving as a transparent resource for staffing, quality, and safety data from hospitals, home care agencies, government agencies, and other independent sources. It also serves as a resource for information on a variety of healthcare topics, all designed to encourage and assist individuals to participate in their care and make healthcare decisions that are right for them. Tools found on the 1IGS website include advanced care planning and healthcare proxies, information on preventing infections and/or hospital readmissions, and patient fact sheets on opioid risks. These tools and resources are regularly updated and can be aids to promote health throughout one’s lifespan.
4. Communities
We are committed to being a responsible corporate citizen in all the communities where we operate worldwide. Our top priority is to run safe and environmentally responsible operations. 1IGS aims to be a leader in every aspect of our business by using resources wisely and seeking to develop proprietary technologies that give us a competitive edge. We strive to achieve our goals by flawlessly executing our business plans and adhering to these guiding principles and the foundational policies that follow.
5. Promoting Development/Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce in a Safe, Respectful & Supportive Work Environment
Organizations affiliated with 1IGS create hospital, home health, and community-based initiatives and strategic partnerships to address workforce shortages of nurses and other care professionals. Efforts include innovative "career ladders," residency programs, mentoring and preceptor opportunities, joint funding of clinic faculty positions in educational institutions, and employer initiatives to increase workforce diversity. 1IGS supports the sharing and adoption of recognized programs, practices, and innovations that support performance excellence and a healthy and safe workplace. Examples include workforce health, wellness & recognition programs; safe patient handling guidelines; and team communication tools such as TeamSTEPPS (Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety). Sponsors and participants support legislation and guidelines to promote workplace safety efforts and protect all patients and hospital, home health, and other provider employees from workplace violence. Participating in hospitals and clinics programs to monitor the progress of efforts to improve the work environment. Examples of such 'practice environment assessments' include surveying patience and measuring improvement over time on specific employee satisfaction endeavors.