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Learn MoreRecently, HealthStream interviewed two leaders in patient safety to learn more about what top-performing organizations are doing to improve patient safety. Joan Wynn, PhD, RN is the Chief Quality Officer and President of Vidant Home Health and Hospice. Brenda Kuhn, RN, Ph.D, FACHE, CPHQ is the Network Chief Quality Officer at Kettering Health Network. Both shared their strategies as well as the challenges faced by senior healthcare leaders trying to address patient safety and quality issues. Here are some of their best practices:
Explain the Whys.
Clinicians need to understand the ‘whys’. Engaged clinicians will own exceptional care. It is critical to have them involved in developing and monitoring processes that lead to the consistent delivery of quality care,” said Dr. Kuhn. Staff understand the workflow and can identify barriers to success that most likely are not obvious to leaders. Walk in my shoes initiatives are meaningful for leaders to gain a better understanding of the realities faced by clinicians as they balance multiple priorities in the care of patients.
Look for Solutions From Frontline Staff.
According to Dr. Wynn, direct caregivers really have the best ideas about how to improve care and really understand where the gaps are. Recently we were working on a blood clot prevention program. We decided to use an e-Survey tool to quickly get a better understanding of nursing perceptions and practices regarding anticoagulant medications, particularly when a patient refuses that medication. We got much more feedback than we would have been able to get from other means and we got it much more quickly. Moreover, what we learned really helped to point us in the right direction moving forward with our blood clot prevention work, using data that we otherwise might not have gotten.”
Share Data About Progress Widely.
In addition, Dr. Wynn tells us that Vidant uses an organization-wide format for reporting quality scores. The report is used from the boardroom to the bedside. This weekly and monthly focus on the areas for both celebration and improvement is a crucial way in which Vidant engages employees in key initiatives. This thorough and transparent reporting is shared widely and builds the will to improve.
Make Use of Daily Safety Huddles.
Dr. Wynn shared that every entity within Vidant participates in a daily safety huddle. The president of each entity runs the huddle which includes all disciplines and department managers. The stand-up meeting lasts approximately 30-minutes and agenda items might include: anything that has happened within the last 24 hours, what is going on today, the numbers for admissions, discharges and transitions, anything unusual that may be happening and each department has a report from which they share that helps keep managers aware of key issues with staffing, equipment and any other safety or risk concerns.
Conclusion: Where Are We Still Vulnerable?
While the news on the patient safety front is essentially about improving metrics, we also were curious about what industry experts would say about remaining vulnerabilities. What keeps people entrusted with patient safety awake at night? Both Dr. Kuhn and Dr. Wynn pointed to the rather dizzying, constantly growing and evolving metrics related to safety, quality, patient experience and ultimately, reimbursement. The sheer number of ratings and rankings and their associated reporting requirements make it a challenge to collect the data and to respond appropriately. Dr. Kuhn also cited the challenges of managing increasing numbers of priorities in terms of understanding what is next for the Accountable Care Act and the challenges of continuing to focus on quality while reimbursement is changing.
This post is taken from an article in our recent eBook, The Urgent Priority To Keep Each Patient Safe. Download the eBook here.
HealthStream’s learning management system and comprehensive suite of competency management tools empower your healthcare workforce to deliver the best patient care.
View All Learning & PerformanceHealthStream offers performance learning management solutions to help develop your healthcare staff into leaders and reduce turnover.
View All ProductsHealthStream works with healthcare organizations to create engaging and high-quality training videos for your staff and management.
View All ProductsImprove care quality and save money by making informed decisions about your healthcare facility and staff with HealthStream's reporting analytics solution.
View All ProductsHealthStream's proven methods for the improvement and overall engagement of your healthcare staff foster a positive workplace and increase retention rates.
View All ProductsThe leadership development program from HealthStream helps mold your high-potential healthcare employees into proven leaders.
View All ProductsWhen you enact HealthStream's quality compliance solutions, you can do so with the confidence your healthcare organization will meet all standards of care.
View All Quality & ComplianceFulfill compliance requirements with a variety of programs and courseware designed to address critical regulatory requirements as well as educate staff to recognize and mitigate risks.
View All ProductsBy increasing your healthcare staff's focus on quality and safety with HealthStream, they can help to reduce medical errors and readmission rates.
View All ProductsLearn about what HealthStream's healthcare policy management software and how it can help aid your organization efforts.
View All ProductsHealthStream's education helps address diversity, equity, and inclusion within your organization, as well as promoting health equity in the communities you serve.
View All ProductsHealthStream offers professional training and education on how to best optimize your reimbursement process within your healthcare organization.
View All ReimbursementTeach your healthcare staff about the revenue cycle and claim management through targeted training and video tools from HealthStream.
View All ProductsLearn about our advanced resuscitation training solutions. Our solutions are designed to help improve patient outcomes.
View All ResuscitationIn all areas of resuscitation, from neonatal to elderly care, clinical deterioration is a risk that can be avoided with the help of HealthStream's training programs.
View All ProductsNurture the skills of your nurses and medical staff to help mold them into effective leaders with development training from HealthStream.
View All ProductsExpand the decision-making skills and effectiveness of your healthcare workforce with HealthStream's clinical development programs and services.
View All Clinical DevelopmentMake sure your clinicians have the support they need to provide competent care with clinical competency training and development from HealthStream.
View All ProductsHealthStream’s learning management system and comprehensive suite of competency management tools empower your healthcare workforce to deliver the best patient care.
View All ProductsThe suite of healthcare onboarding solutions available from HealthStream aids in nurse retention and improved patient outcomes.
View All ProductsGive your healthcare staff the decision support and skills training they need with the online products available from HealthStream.
View All ProductsHealthStream leverages medical professional development in healthcare by providing staff training programs
View All ProductsLearn more about HealthStream's provider credentialing, privileging, & enrollment solutions for healthcare organizations.
View All CredentialingExperience standardized and centralized healthcare provider credentialing, privileging, and enrollment that is smarter and faster than ever before.
View All ProductsAutomated, web-based provider credentialing and enrollment software for growing medical groups.
View All ProductsNCQA-certified CVO verification services for initial and re-credentialing files in an overflow or full-service capacity for healthcare organizations.
View All ProductsSearch, review, and add providers into the Epic provider master file with our Epic app integration, Provider Validate.
View All ProductsMake sure your healthcare staff can schedule out appointments and work schedules with ease using HealthStream's line of software solutions.
View All SchedulingHealthcare scheduling software designed to optimize staffing requirements & elevate patient care
View All ProductsPrecisely align staffing and needed resources to enable efficient patient flow and high-quality, cost-effective patient care.
View All ProductsHealthStream’s free nurse schedule app, NurseGrid™, is built to help you care for your staff and engage with their specific needs.
View All Products