Quality

Going Skin-to-Skin Is Best for New Babies

Establishing a baseline measurement for how long moms are getting skin-to-skin contact with their new babies
Creating talking points of the benefits for both new baby and mother about this critical bonding
Communicating with staff to ensure a minimum of 60 minutes of skin-to-skin contact occurs post delivery

What can your team do to explain the "why" behind what you are doing?

The 4-1-1 On Taking Home Your New Baby

Using a checklist of important topics as a teaching tool for new parents at discharge with their new baby
Speaking with them at a time when they are most likely to understand and take in the information
Creating a script for nurses that doesn't feel rehearsed or fake

What can your team do to improve your communication with patients?

scarrpm Wed, 12/28/2016 - 10:29

What can your team do to welcome new members? And what could your team do to leverage its members' unique strengths and knowledge?

Bring Mail Together and Bring Costs Down

Sorting and metering mail at fewer locations
Centralizing facilities mail processing for greater efficiency
Adding meters, offering overtime, and negotiating lower rates for needed vendor services

What can your team do to consolidate supplies or services? What else could your team do to reduce waste?

scarrpm Tue, 12/20/2016 - 12:20

What can your team do create smoother workflows? And how could your team work better with other UBTs to improve performance?

Creative Thinking Makes a Faster Lab

Opening the lab a half-hour earlier to prevent long lines at the open of business
Shifting work schedules and staggering lunch hours to have more staff covering available time
Cross-training staff to register patients, process specimens and draw blood

What can your team do to improve its workflow?

scarrpm Tue, 12/20/2016 - 09:21

New Needles Bruise Less, Please Patients

Identifying the problem was with the needle supplier
Filing a Responsible Reporting Form, and working together to arrive at the solution
Switching needle suppliers to improve care and safety

What can your team do to listen to the voice of the patient?

scarrpm Mon, 12/19/2016 - 16:22

Early Shift Ensures On-Time Labs

Having lab assistants, not runners, pick up blood samples at 6 a.m. and drop off specimens every half-hour
Using clinical lab scientists from other departments to help process blood in the morning
Moving weekend shifts for clinical lab scientists to 6 a.m. instead of 9 a.m.

What can your team do to shift its workflow for the benefit of patients?

scarrpm Mon, 12/19/2016 - 15:29

What can your team do to huddle more often and more effectively?

Educating about the proper use of VTE orders for post-operative patients
Coordinating with pharmacists and other teams to ensure orders are followed
Outlining how the Joint Commission's SCIP guidelines can help improve compliance

What can your team do to work with other teams to improve outcomes for patients?