Quality

• Having medical assistants take vitals instead of waiting for LPNs
• Huddling twice daily to discuss needs and concerns
• Dividing labor and shifting schedules where necessary

 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"?

• 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?

• Identifying which tests oncology patients actually need
• Creating and issuing a "golden ticket" to get patients to the front of the line
• Fast tracking the processing of labs before seeing the doctor

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

• 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?

• Coordinating transport times with other departments, and ensuring labs and meds are ready
• Ordering new, wider and more accessible chairs to make it easier to move patients
• Creating a new and dedicated transporter position to faciliate trips

What can your team do to work effectively with other teams? What else could your team do to better understand patients' needs? 

• Pairing a nurse with a buddy to help with patient response
• Designating backups to the buddies
• Communicating with the appropriate nurse the patient’s needs

What can your team do to allocate staff time and attention effectively and strategically? 

• Identifying workplace hazards
• Encouraging discussions about safety
• Promoting safety awareness programs or initiatives

What can your team do prevent injuries before they happen?