Full-time clinical Faculty Spotlight: Mellena Giday

Written by Mellena Giday, MD

Work

I recently took on the role of Department of Medicine Quality Improvement (QI) representative. I review several cases that filter through Patient Safety Network (PSN) that have identified quality concern.

I also represent the Department of Medicine in a larger multidisciplinary peer QI review to share findings. I work closely with the QI chief resident for Harborview Medical Center. We review cases identified for morbidity and mortality conference.

The role allows for a systematic approach of cases with diagnostic errors, systems issues, delay in accessing care, etc. to strive for patient safety and excellence in health administration. It provides a structured space to enable us to learn from our mistakes, ask the difficult questions, and review events to continue enhancing our care for our patients.

The results or findings can help implement new policy surrounding safety measures, safe operations, training personnel, or education surrounding patient safety.

I had the opportunity to participate and complete the UW Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Certificate Program to satisfy an inner drive to learn and achieve more within the quality improvement arena. University of Washington partners with Seattle Children’s Care to offer this program on yearly bases. It allows for individuals interested in quality improvement work to obtain a solid educational background. The program can serve as a springboard for future projects.

Harborview Medical Center

I work as a hospitalist at Harborview Medical Center and there are several different factors that I like about working at HMC. Everyone that works here exudes a big heart and has the patient’s best interest front and center. I love the patient population I am privileged to connect with every day at work. I have always been interested in working in a setting that allows me to work closely with underserved and marginalized population. Harborview allows me to do so as a hospitalist and the fact that it is an academic center is a plus.

About Mellena