Best practices

Chasing Revenue? Stay On Top of Third-Party Billings

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

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?

Keeping gurneys and equipment where they are needed, and having staff speak with patients during transport
Cleaning and making the gurneys with sheets and blankets before they are needed
Designating a staff member to ensure equipment is placed where needed

What can your team do to make the best use of your "down time"?

What can your team do motivate peers to hold each other accountable?

Telemetry Monitoring Is Critical to Good Care

Identifying the number of patients off telemetry monitoring for longer than 3 minutes and why
Huddling to discuss the severity and consequences of the problem
Creating reminders to check monitors, and make it part of the routine

What can your team do hardwire improvements you make into your workflow?

scarrpm Fri, 12/16/2016 - 12:58

Front-of-the-Line Pass Reduces Unneeded Tests

What can your team do to adjust your workflow in a way that puts the patient at the center?

scarrpm Fri, 12/16/2016 - 11:16

Using key phrases in malnutrition assessment to catch the attention of physicians
Bolding their recommendations in notes to doctors
Speaking directly to physicians about potentially malnourished patients

What can your team do to improve cooperation between physicians and other members of the care team?