Ann Marie Barsanti, RN, BSN, is a graduate of Beacon's first Compass program. Now a nursing education specialist at El Camino Hospital, she has been a nurse for 21 years and enrolled in Compass to learn more about patient safety processes and tools.

"The technical aspects were great -- from developing AIM statements to learning about data collection," she said. "But I really benefited from collaboration with peers. It is reassuring and validating to hear others say that they haven't ‘arrived,' and to learn about how they are trying to improve."

Like other Compass participants, Barsanti worked on a specific project and presented the work to classmates.

"Doing the formal presentation of the patient falls project that I worked on was out of my comfort zone, but it was something I needed to be able to do in my new position at the hospital. It was a great experience."

"Beacon offers the chance to hear and understanding where others are coming from. We easily get trapped in our own little world or stuck behind our own walls.  We have a lot to learn from other hospitals," said Barsanti.

Barsanti's AIM for her falls project was to have no falls on the general surgical floor. Currently El Camino Hospital is using yellow arm bands to identify fall risk patients. A formal process for hourly rounding on all patients was implemented, confirming the call light is within reach, beds are in low position with the brake locked and the environment is uncluttered. Barsanti added, "We address the 3 P's (Pain, Position and Potty).

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