Knowledge on the Go

Task Rebalancing to Improve Discharge Efficiency

Transitions from hospital to post-acute care is both time consuming and complex. When discharge tasks are not coordinated and stacked on the patient’s last day, any disruption can cause a cascade of negative events. In fact, 30% of all hospital admissions have a 24-hour discharge delay due to non-clinical reasons.  
Bennett Masden, Director of Quality at Great River Health in West Burlington, Iowa joins host Margaret Rudisill, Performance Improvement Director at Vizient to explore how moving tasks before the day of discharge can help reduce a patient’s length of stay.   
 
Guest Speaker:Bennett Masden, BBADirector of QualityGreat River Health
Moderator:Margaret Rudisill, RN, BSN, MS-HQSPI Program DirectorVizient
 
Show Notes:
[01:22] Task rebalancing to alleviate resource constraints at discharge
[02:04] Use a process map to determine when tasks are happening and decide what tasks can move earlier
[03:13] How to respond to pushback
[04:10] A cross-functional team of stakeholders develops an action plan and encourages commitment
[04:31] Example: moving exercise oximetry tests to the day before discharge
[05:35] Other examples: medication reconciliation and physical therapy
[07:35] Staff reaction to task rebalancing
 
Links | Resources:
Contacting Knowledge on the Go:  picollaboratives@vizientinc.com
Bennet Masden’s email: bmasden@greatriverhealth.org
Margaret Rudisill’s contact: margaret.rudisill@vizientinc.com
 
 
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How a Nurse Residency Program supports Performance Improvement and Retention

Similar to residency programs physicians and other healthcare disciplines undergo, these programs give recently graduated nurses the support and learning opportunities to smooth the transition from novice to competent clinicians, while providing valuable peer and mentor support; keys that also address turnover.
 
Janine Lindgreen, nurse residency coordinator, and Dawn Profit, staff development specialist, both of University of Kentucky, Albert B. Chandler Hospital join Host LaTammy Marks to discuss what healthcare organizations can do to improve their new nurse graduate journey, utilizing the Vizient American Association of Colleges of Nursing, or AACN Nurse Residency Program, also NRP, and how they can increase the use of evidence-based practice while focusing on continuous performance improvement.
 
Guests:Janine LindgreenNurse Residency CoordinatorUniversity of Kentucky, Albert B. Chandler Hospital
Dawn ProfitStaff Development SpecialistUniversity of Kentucky, Albert B. Chandler Hospital
Moderator:LaTammy MarksPI Program DirectorVizient
 
Show Notes:
[02:56 – 04:39] How University of Kentucky operationalized the NRP
[04:40 – 06:55]  A performance and improvement project done by the nursing residents and how a process improved as a result of this work including evidence-based practice
[06:56 – 10:01]  Ways that University of Kentucky utilizes the NRP to monitor retention
[10:02 – 11:44]  Describing the quarterly scorecard and why focusing on  nurse retention is important to monitor on the scorecard for your organization
[11:45 – 14:23]  How participation in these PI Collaborative supports the NRP
[14:24 – 16:20]  What has contributed to the overall success of their NRP
[16:21 – 17:29]  Advice for organizations that are starting a NRP program to shift their focus to retention of nurses, especially new nurses
 
For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com
 
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Caring for patients where they are: Examining a successful home infusion program

Care is moving outside the hospital at a faster and faster pace. Due to  payer mandates, shifts in sites of care to locations outside the hospital will bring an additional 18 percent expansion of patient visits to physician offices and outpatient facilities by 2032. Strategies for home infusion will play a big role in this shift as well. Currently, over 550 medications are available for home infusion. On this episode, two leading experts will detail their successful home infusion strategy at their organization.
 
Guests:Alicia Ranasinghe, PharmD, IgCPMedication Access Services PharmacistFairview Home Infusion
Brett BenfieldDirector of Home Infusion and CompoundingFairview Infusion Consulting Services
 
Moderator:Jim Lichauer, PharmD, BCPS, FASHPPerformance Improvement Program DirectorVizient
 
Show Notes:
[01:35] Fairview Pharmacy Services and home infusion
[03:06] IVIG Stewardship Program
[04:13] Process to establish patients in home infusion
[05:25] Pharmacist involvement
[05:50] Getting buy-in from colleagues
[06:58] Impact on patients
[08:12] Looking to the future
[08:39] Take-aways from the program
 
Resources:
Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com
Jim’s email: jim.lichauer@vizientinc.com
Alicia’s email: alicia.ranasinghe@fairview.org
Brett’s email: brett.benfield@fairview.org
 
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Sepsis Month: Racing to reduce readmissions

Recent studies have demonstrated that sepsis patients have a much higher readmission risk than other common conditions such as heart failure, heart attacks, and pneumonia. The National Institutes of Health states that sepsis is a substantial healthcare burden, accounting for 6.2% of total hospital costs in the United States.
 
Shannon Chase Weck, Performance Improvement Specialist and Sepsis Coordinator at Houston Methodist West in Texas joins Host Shannon Hale to discuss share their work to decrease sepsis readmissions.
 
Guests:Shannon Chase WeckPerformance Improvement Specialist and Sepsis CoordinatorHouston Methodist West Hospital
Moderator:Shannon HalePI Program DirectorVizient
 
Show Notes:
[00:58 – 01:24] Looking at Sepsis as an organization
[01:25 – 02:30] Organizations approach to sepsis readmissions
[02:31 – 03:09] Grand Prix theme and outcomes
[03:10 – 04:58] How they have sustained improvements
[04:59 – 06:15] The barriers
[06:16 – 07:23] Ah-has to share
 
For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com
 

Change Management

Change management is a term bandied about a lot in industry as a whole and in the health care industry in particular. Yet, organizations struggle in carrying it out and few seem to see lasting results from their efforts. In this episode, two industry leaders in change management share principles to make your change management initiatives succeed.
Guest speaker:Dwayne Banks, CCPSenior Change Management PartnerVizient
Kimberly Kisner, MBADirector, Change ManagementVizient
Moderator:Amber Hanser, MHA, CPHQSenior Improvement Program DirectorPerformance Improvement ProgramsVizient
Show Notes:
[03:04] Defining change management
[03:46] Leading change
[05:35] Change fatigue
[08:47] Leading practices in change management
[10:22] How organizations should approach change management
[13:50] Communicating in times of uncertainty
[18:31] Sustaining change
[20:16] Start at the beginning of the process—steps to take
Links | Resources:
Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com
Amber’s email: amber.hanser@vizientinc.com
Dwayne’s email: dwayne.banks@vizientinc.com
Kimberly’s email: kimberly.kisner@vizientinc.com
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Go Green: Why Your Healthcare System Should be Engaged in Environmental Sustainability

Many issues facing our healthcare systems, such as rising costs, staffing shortages, supply chain disruptions, why should sustainability be top of mind for healthcare organizations and what they how can they improve their sustainability journey.
Rebecca Hou, Environmental Sustainability product advisor for Vizient joins Host LaTammy Marks to discuss this important issue.
 
Guests:
Rebecca Hou
Environmental Sustainability Product Advisor
Vizient
Moderator:
LaTammy Marks
PI Program Director
Vizient
 
Show Notes:
[01:23 – 02:19]  Rebecca’s role at Vizient
[02:20 – 04:18]  Why environmental sustainability should be top of mind in healthcare
[04:19 – 05:32]  Health risks our patient populations can face
[05:33 – 07:00]  Hospitals focus on increased health risk utilization to improve sustainability
[07:01 – 08:44]  How organizations are contributing to the environmental risk
[08:45 – 10:35]  What healthcare organizations can do to decrease emissions
[10:36 – 12:05]  The number one thing that organizations can do to start focusing on sustainability
For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com
 
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Revisiting Workplace Violence series from 2022 - Part3

We have a Workplace Violence Survey underway now. The survey consists of 9 questions related to 4 outcome metrics. The deadline to submit data is August 18, 2023. If interested, please contact picollaborativesteam@vizientinc.com
 
Closing out Workplace Violence Awareness Month, Lindsay Mayer and Heidi Boehm deep dive into protocols and procedures for dealing with the aftermath of a violent event.
 
Guest speaker:Heidi BoehmBehavioral Health Program ManagerThe University of Kansas Health System
 
Moderator:Lindsay MayerSenior DirectorVizient
 
Show Notes:
[01:02] Survey employees to learn how supported they feel.    
[02:59] Awareness campaigns help reduce workplace violence.   
[05:39] Implement a comprehensive and standardized debriefing process.   
[08:37] Simply checking in with staff, post-event, is a powerful tool.
[09:50] COVID has impacted the launch of a post-event leadership guidebook.    
[11:02] Routine, ongoing data collection is very important.
[12:29] Leaders must be equipped with the necessary tools.
For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com
 
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Revisiting Workplace Violence series from 2022 - Part 2

We have a Workplace Violence Survey underway now. The survey consists of 9 questions related to 4 outcome metrics. The deadline to submit data is August 18, 2023. If interested, please contact picollaborativesteam@vizientinc.com
 
Continuing the discussion for Workplace Violence Awareness Month, Lindsay Mayer, Rick Litzinger, and Dan Hunnisett explore the importance of building a solid foundation for staff education and training programs around workplace violence.
 
Guest speaker:Rick LitzingerManager, Emergency Preparedness, Safety, SecurityAltru Health System
 
Dan HunnisettSecurity Program Specialist, Security Altru Health System
 
Moderator:Lindsay MayerSenior DirectorVizient
 
Show Notes:
[01:26] Education is foundational in addressing workplace violence, so it is vital to assess your organization’s training gaps and educational needs.    
[03:00] Strong training programs include several key components.   
[03:54] Altru’s multi-tiered training curriculum.   
[07:09] The challenges and successes of virtual learning, as experienced during the pandemic.
[08:44] Surveys are extremely important in understanding your organization’s culture of safety, as well as education needs and preferences.    
[11:01] Recommended to strengthen your training program: Data collection and cross-discipline strategic partnerships.
For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com
 
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Revisiting Workplace Violence series from 2022 - Part 1

We have a Workplace Violence Survey underway now. The survey consists of 9 questions related to 4 outcome metrics. The deadline to submit data is August 18, 2023. If interested, please contact picollaborativesteam@vizientinc.com
 
In recognition of Workplace Violence Awareness Month, Lindsay Mayer, Mark Reed, and Diana Scott discuss the latest workplace violence statistics and the trends organizations are facing within the industry.
 
Guest speaker:Mark ReedDirector of Support ServicesMLK Community Healthcare
 
Diana ScottAssociate Vice President of Accreditation and Regulatory Advisory ServicesVizient
 
Moderator:Lindsay MayerSenior DirectorVizient
 
Show Notes:
[01:53] Workplace violence has increased continuously throughout 2020 and 2021.
[02:49] The pandemic is a major contributing factor.  
[04:30] The workforce shortage has impacted organizations.  
[05:38] The Joint Commission has released new requirements for 2022.
[08:24] Organizations are implementing unique and innovative strategies.   
[10:55] Leaders can aid in addressing and preventing workplace violence.
For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com
 
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First Things First: Advance Care Planning for Inpatients with Cancer

More and more, healthcare organizations are focusing on Advance Care Planning as a best practice for treating patients with multiple chronic conditions. This approach can be particularly beneficial in working with patients who have exhausted treatment options and approach end of life. On this episode, two clinical leaders from The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania discuss their approach to Advance Care Planning.
Guest speakers:
Rachel Mea, MSN, RN, OCN
Clinical Practice Lead
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
 
Erin Lightheart, MBA
Master Improvement Advisor
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
 
Host:
Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ
PI Program Director
Vizient
Show Notes:
[00:23] Advance Care Planning defined; rationale for this approach
[01:09] Origins of initiative at Penn Medicine
[02:03] Starting point
[02:49] Avoiding moral distress among clinicians
[04:00] Improved communications
[05:10] Challenges
[06:07] Outcomes
[06:47] What’s next
[07:29] Feedback; relevance to families
Links | Resources:
Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com
Shannon’s email: shannon.hale@vizientinc.com
Erin’s email: erin.lightheart@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Rachel’s email: rachel.mea@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
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