McGill University Health Center (MUHC) in Canada launched a new program aimed at improving patient safety and quality care, school officials announced.

The new program, which is being conducted in collaboration with Vendorlink.ca, is the first of its kind in a large academic Quebec hospital.  Officials said the initiative will ensure that all vendors are credentialed, meeting MUHC patient safety and quality standards, and receive official photo identification at every hospital visit.

"At the MUHC we are focused on creating and sustaining a culture of safety," Patricia Lefebvre, Director of Quality, Patient Safety and Performance, said in a statement. "As vendors are an integral part of the hospital's day-to-day operations and they spend a significant amount of time in clinical areas, it is crucial that they are aware of our quality and patient safety standards to apply them at all times."

The MUHC works with vendors from approximately 2,000 different companies, annually. Vendors can range from medical device and pharmaceutical representatives, to construction contractors, many of whom require access to sensitive areas of the hospital, such as the operating rooms and Intensive Care Units.

"Hospital vendors are essential as they support our healthcare teams with many products and services", Donna Stanbridge, Associate Director of Nursing - Perioperative/MDR Services at the MUHC, said in a statement. "Wearing identification badges similar to those of our hospital staff will ensure that everyone follows the same safety regulations and standards. Patients as well as staff will know who they are interacting with, and we will have peace of mind that vendors are adequately prepared through the hospital credentialing process and that patient safety and privacy are being respected." 

The MUHC is the first hospital in Quebec to implement the Vendorlink.ca solution, which is a budget neutral solution because costs are negotiated between Vendorlink.ca and the vendors themselves.