BD and Thien Hanh Hospital Advance Global Standards with PRIME Program for Infusion Safety

The event was attended by hospital leadership, representatives from JCI, senior executives from BD Southeast Asia and Vietnam, along with clinical department representatives, support teams, core PRIME group members, and program experts. 

The PRIME program (Preventing Risks of Infections and Medication Errors in IV therapy) was developed by JCI experts in the United States with organizational support from BD, aiming to prevent risks in infusion therapy and medication-related errors. The program is designed to standardize infusion processes through training, monitoring, evaluation, and continuous improvement, helping hospitals enhance patient safety in alignment with international standards. 

For years, Thien Hanh General Hospital has focused on improving service quality and updating care protocols, particularly those related to intravenous therapy—a high-frequency procedure that directly impacts treatment outcomes. Alongside technical updates and clinical recommendations, the hospital is implementing a continuous training series in 2025 on “Safe IV Therapy”, combined with standardizing equipment, supplies, closed-system models, and safety-supporting factors. Adopting the PRIME program enables the hospital to establish a robust practice foundation, ensuring consistency and alignment with global standards. 

The PRIME program, jointly implemented by BD, has been deployed in over 50 hospitals worldwide, becoming a benchmark model for standardizing infusion practices. Its structure tightly controls every step of the process: from device selection, vascular access techniques, skin preparation, catheter placement and securement, locking and line maintenance; to medication preparation under strict environmental conditions, reconstitution techniques, dose calculation, and handling of high-risk drugs.  

Medication management is a key focus, involving pharmacists in prescription review, infusion rate guidance, and collaborative patient monitoring. The entire program emphasizes infection prevention and reduction of medication errors to improve safety and care quality. 

Implementing PRIME requires close collaboration among nursing, infection control, pharmacy, quality management, and clinical departments. Each unit plays a specialized role while integrating into a unified practice chain to ensure sustainable process compliance. 

The hospital has selected five key departments for the initial phase before scaling the model across the institution once processes are standardized. PRIME experts will conduct on-site assessments, training, supervision, and process adjustments to ensure the program fits Thien Hanh’s clinical context. 

Dr. Tran Minh Dau, Chairman of the Board, emphasized: 

“The PRIME program under JCI international standards is not just a technical solution—it represents a systemic transformation. The program helps standardize workflows, strengthen staff competency, and build a safe, high-quality, and sustainable care environment. As the eighth hospital in Vietnam, the first in the Central Highlands, and one of the pioneers to adopt PRIME, Thien Hanh reaffirms its strong commitment to innovation and excellence in patient care.”

Lu Liang, Vice President and General Manager, BD Southeast Asia, stated: 

“At BD, we believe that advancing patient safety starts with standardized, evidence-based practices. Every patient should have access to care that is safe, reliable, and aligned with the highest standards. Through the PRIME program, we are proud to support hospitals like Thien Hanh in building safer infusion therapy processes that reduce risks and improve outcomes. This launch reflects our commitment to Southeast Asia, working closely with healthcare providers to drive innovation and contribute to shaping the future of care quality across the region.”

Closing the ceremony, Dr. Phan Trong Nhon, Spec. Level 1 – Deputy Director, reaffirmed: 

“For many years, Thien Hanh General Hospital has remained steadfast in improving treatment quality and comprehensive patient care, with top priority on safe vascular access management. We consider PRIME one of our key strategic initiatives for 2025–2026. We deeply appreciate the support of JCI and BD in implementing this meaningful program. The hospital leadership commits to closely directing and monitoring progress to ensure the program meets international standards. Thank you to JCI and BD for partnering with us on this journey to enhance patient safety.”