Ephraim McDowell Health joins statewide patient safety program, bringing the safety initiative to 25 hospitals

BOSTON, Mass. – January 2, 2025 – The I-PASS Kentucky Hospital Association Transitions and Communication in Hospitals (KHATCH) Program, an industry-leading partnership between I-PASS and the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) devoted to standardizing clinical handoffs at the statewide level, has expanded to include its fifth KHA-member organization, Ephraim McDowell Health (EMH), and a total of 25 facilities. Launched in November 2023, the program offers fully funded access to the I-PASS bundle of coaching, consultation, and digital tools, helping KHA members increase the quality and reliability of handoff communication at scale.

The I-PASS KHATCH Program has far outpaced its projected growth for the first year. Seeking to elevate care quality, improve patient safety, and establish a universal language for care transitions, the eight-year initiative will be funded by KHA for up to 60% of its members, or roughly 77 organizations, offering the program at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis. With the recent addition of EMH’s three facilities, I-PASS KHATCH will reach 32% of its overall goal within the first 12 months. At 25 participating hospitals, the program has nearly tripled its original plan of implementing nine hospitals in the first year, demonstrating strong adoption among KHA organizations.

“It’s a privilege to participate in such an innovative and fast-growing initiative,” said Jason Dean, Chief Quality Officer at EMH. “The I-PASS KHATCH program goes above and beyond traditional hospital association support, providing evidence-based tools and education that reinforce high-reliability and structured communication across the entire care continuum. For KHA members like us looking to build a culture of safety performance, this program is foundational.” 

EMH is a comprehensive, integrated healthcare delivery system that serves more than 119,000 residents from six counties in central Kentucky. The system consists of three hospitals, with Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, a 197-bed non-profit hospital located at its core, and 247 beds in total. The I-PASS tools and framework will be mission-critical to the system’s goal of delivering safe, quality care throughout Kentucky.

“As we round the corner on one year, it’s amazing to reflect on the program’s growth and see how it resonates with so many institutions,” said Deborah Campbell, Vice President of Clinical Strategy and Transformation at Kentucky Hospital Association. “The program offers exceptional value, providing up to 60% of KHA members with fully funded access to the I-PASS bundle. With strong demand and limited capacity, we encourage members to reserve their space now to benefit from the program’s actionable tools and proven model for driving lasting change.”

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

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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 Ephraim McDowell Health

The Ephraim McDowell Health system is a comprehensive, integrated healthcare delivery system that serves more than 119,000 residents from six counties in central Kentucky. Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center is at the core of the system, a non-profit, 197-bed licensed hospital. Our other hospitals are Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital located in neighboring Lincoln County (Stanford), and Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital located in neighboring Mercer County (Harrodsburg).

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.