Effective practices

• Assessing the problem and working together to a solution
• Converting extra closet space into a dressing room for patients
• Realizing even small solutions pay large dividends

 What can your team do to use your physical space more efficiently? 

• 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? 

• 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?

• Surveying employees about attendance policies
• Creating guidelines around sick days, tardiness and dangling (not filling out time cards)
• Rewarding successful employees with a formal lunch

What can your team do to reward and recognize one another?

• Communicating with the team
• Asking how the team prefers to communicate or meet
• Allowing team members to earn rewards for attendance

What can your team do to improve communication among its members? 

• Setting up designated bins in operating rooms for blue wrap recycling
• Educating staff about the dos and don’ts of the bins, such as no infectious or solid waste
• Coordinating with a local charity such as Goodwill to help with processing

What can your team do to "go green"? What else could your team do to reduce waste?