Early impact from participating hospitals accelerates adoption as statewide program surpasses 50 hospitals

BOSTON, Mass. – February 10, 2026 – The I-PASS Kentucky Hospital Association Transitions and Communication in Hospitals (KHATCH) Program, a first-of-its-kind statewide initiative to improve patient handoffs and reduce preventable harm, has reached a defining milestone, achieving 70% of its eight year enrollment goal with 52 hospitals now participating. This growth underscores a broader shift toward structured communication as the foundation for safer, more reliable care delivery. Continued adoption is being driven by positive feedback and measurable impact from participating organizations across the Commonwealth.

Launched in late 2023, the KHATCH Program is a joint effort between the I-PASS Patient Safety Institute and the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) to bring standardized, evidence-based handoff communication tools to hospitals of all sizes. The initiative offers fully funded access to the I-PASS bundle, including digital tools, coaching, and implementation support, to up to 60% of KHA’s members, or approximately 77 hospitals, on a first-come, first-served basis. Since reaching the 50% mark just six months ago, the program has added 12 hospitals, emphasizing the accelerating demand for structured communication in Kentucky.

The latest organizations to join the KHATCH Program include:

• Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center
• LifePoint Health (Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, Spring View Hospital, Jackson Purchase Medical Center, and Meadowview Regional Medical Center)
• Centerpoint Health (Versailles, Paris, Winchester, and Georgetown locations)
• Deaconess Health System (Deaconess Henderson Hospital and Deaconess Union County Hospital)
• Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville

“The pace of adoption over the past several months reflects what hospitals are seeing from their peers,” said Deborah Campbell, Vice President of Clinical Strategy and Transformation at the Kentucky Hospital Association. “Participating organizations are reporting more reliable handoffs, stronger teamwork, and better patient engagement, and that experience is influencing how other hospitals make decisions. When structured communication becomes part of routine workflow rather than an added initiative, it is positioned to be sustained as part of how care is designed and delivered.”

Early adopters of the KHATCH Program are demonstrating tangible gains in how care teams manage transitions of care. At Baptist Health Paducah’s Women’s Care Unit, compliance with the I-PASS handoff methodology rose to 92% within two months of implementation, alongside reported improvements in team communication and patient confidence during bedside reports.

“This milestone reflects how quickly the program has matured,” said Marshall Burkhart, CEO of the I-PASS Patient Safety Institute. “What began with early adopters is now influencing decisions at the system level. That progression creates the conditions for structured communication to become a consistent part of how care teams work across Kentucky.”

As the KHATCH Program reaches 70% of its long-term target, program leaders are encouraging hospitals that have not yet signed on to act quickly. Enrollment slots are limited, and interest continues to rise as word spreads about the program’s results and member satisfaction.

To learn more about improving patient safety through better clinical care transitions, please contact info@ipassinstitute.com.

About I-PASS

The I-PASS Patient Safety Institute enables structured communications during clinical care transitions, and as a result, improves both patient safety and clinical outcomes. Founded by clinicians in 2016, the I-PASS Institute leverages expert mentorship paired with technology and digital tools to scale the I-PASS methodology. I-PASS is currently implemented in more than 100 healthcare institutions across the continuum of care. Learn more at www.ipassinstitute.com.

About Kentucky Hospital Association

The Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA), established in 1929, represents hospitals, related health care organizations, and integrated health care systems dedicated to sustaining and improving the health status of the citizens of Kentucky. Learn more at www.kyha.com.