Quality and Patient Safety Task Force Leads "Top 10" Campaign
The Quality and Patient Safety Education Task Force is the driving force behind this year's Quality and Patient Safety Initiatives education campaign. Positioning the campaign under the theme of 'I'm making it better,' the team aims to attach ownership and accountability to the "Top 10" initiatives, ensuring that all clinical, non-clinical and physician staff comply with the core measures.
"Top 10" Quality and Patient Safety Initiatives:
- Identify patient by using two patient identifiers
- Wash my hands
- Limit and read back telephone/verbal orders
- Don't use any unapproved abbreviations
- Educate patients about new medication and complete documentation of the education
- Hand off the care of patient to another caregiver by communicating pertinent information
- Complete the medication reconciliation process
- Screen patients for fall risk and implement respective interventions
- Take a 'time-out' to verify I have the right patient and right procedure/site
- Document and use restraints appropriately
"Whatever position you hold at Children's-whether it's clinical or non-clinical, physician or executive, nurse or administrative assistant-you play an important role in making it safe for the children we care for," said Chris Nyquist, MD, acting director, Quality and Patient Safety.
"All staff must follow these initiatives not just because we need to in order to meet the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations' (JCAHO) compliance criteria, but because it is the right thing to do," added Teresa Fisher, Patient Safety Specialist. "Sometimes doing the right thing may take more time or more resources but safety doesn't just happen. It is a conscious effort made by all of us."
Established in June, the task force meets weekly to assess their efforts in educating staff and physicians about their roles and responsibilities in delivering safe care by complying with the initiatives. Each member contributes in coordinating the campaign and disseminating resources, which consist of several tools, including:
- Education packets detailing campaign specifics
- A calendar with a reminder each month of the "Top 10"
- Giveaways to staff throughout the campaign
- CHEX training
All staff are accountable for compliance, and will be asked to sign a form indicating they understand that they will be subject to disciplinary action up to termination if found to be consistently non-compliant. Staff compliance will be audited through tracers, interviews and chart reviews.
"Delivering high quality, safe care is one of the ways we can all contribute," said Teresa. "It doesn't matter if you fill the soap dispenser, or you are using the soap to clean your hands prior to surgery: We all make a difference."
To communicate the importance of this initiative, the task force has collaborated with directors and leaders from satellite locations and at the main campus. In addition, the group partnered with the Family Advisory Council in developing information that will be distributed to families and patients during admission. Families and patients will be encouraged to partner with staff to ensure a safe environment for their child.
"Our team's hope is that by year-end, all staff and physicians will fully comply with the 'Top 10' because we are all on the same team, and together we can all make it better," explained Dr. Nyquist. "We thank each of you in advance for your support of and involvement with this important quality and patient safety initiative."
