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![Detail of scopes used by gastroenterologists](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/rs18988_rag_11_10_20-039-scr.jpg)
Strategic Scheduling of Anesthesia
Team increased percentage of anesthesia cases on days physicians are scheduled and saved $113,000 in 10 months.
- Optimizing the time and unique skills of doctors and nurses keeps KP affordable
- UBT increased percent of anesthesia cases on days contract physicians were scheduled — four days a week instead of five.
![Anxious-looking man sitting under a clock](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/rs5546_rag-10_04_06-052-scr.jpg)
Staff Buddies Up to Inform Patients
Positive patient responses for staff communications increased 17 percent for the department in three months.
- Patients express appreciation when informed about wait times and delays, which shows respect for their time and eases anxiety.
- Schedulers and receptionists from two clinics paired up for one-hour shifts during predictably busy times to keep patients informed about wait times.
![A slide under a microscope](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/rs11114_microscope-lpr_1.jpg)
Speedy Slides Boost Service
On-time distribution of pathology slides increased 26 percent in two years, and People Pulse Work Unit Index score improved 30 percent.
- Physicians rely on analysis of the slides to diagnose and treat patients.
- The team used a visual display board that helped it track turnaround times.
![Health care worker putting a white sheet on a hospital bed](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/rs24799_rag_13_02_13-057-scr.jpg)
Stopping the Line for Safety
Errors drop significantly as team improved its process and culture.
- Poor communication accounts for more than 60 percent of medication errors nationwide, and contributes to a significant increase in patient complications or death.
- Radiologic technologists are asked to speak up immediately and “stop the line” if they encounter any deviation from workflow or a risk to patient safety.
![White board reading "fast track" and person walking under a sign that says "check out"](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/rs25231_rag_13_02_11-207-scr.jpg)
Putting Patients on the Fast Track
After four months of rapid improvements, emergency room stay decreased from 162 minutes to the team’s target of 90 minutes.
- The length of stay exceeded national benchmarks — patients were waiting up to three hours with minor injuries that required a short amount of physician time.
- The team defined triage urgency using the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) and set up a fast track area at the front of the department.
![Two health care workers getting gowned up to perform surgery](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/rs31387_rag_14_05_26-076-scr.jpg)
Create Surgery Wait List
Dedicated employee shrinks surgery wait list backlog by 70 percent, clearing the way to fit emergency patients into the schedule.
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery patients were complaining about the wait for surgery, and the backlog prevented the scheduling of emergency surgeries.
- Created a wait list and called patients in order when there was an opening for surgery, so the process was fair to all patients.
![Three male pharmacy workers posing in their white lab coats](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/rs2896_rag_11_04_29-011-scr.jpg)
Pharmacy Cuts Wait Times
Pharmacy team fills 89 percent of prescriptions in 15 minutes, and improves patient satisfaction scores 5.7 percent in one year.
- Backups in workflow contribute to long patient wait times and low patient satisfaction scores.
- A pharmacist now continually monitors incoming same-day prescriptions, and moves them ahead of the line to be processed immediately.
![Yellow patient questionnaire and hand on a computer mouse](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/rs31582_rag_14_06_30-058-scr.jpg)
Questionnaire Shaves Wait Time
Patient wait times after gastrointestinal procedure reduced 18 minutes.
- From feelings of frustration and disrespect to increased risk of infection, making patients wait has negative outcomes.
- Create a questionnaire to hand patients at check-in, and train staff on new process.
![toys that look like eyeballs](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/rs11017_09_06_02-108-scr.jpg)
Engaging Eye Exams
96 percent of engaged ophthalmic patients due for breast, colorectal or cervical cancer screenings agreed to a preventive health screening.
- Preventive screenings are key to early detection and treatment of conditions and diseases, so encouraging patients to receive needed screenings helps manage their health.
- Measure and report weekly on level of staff engagement with patients and resulting successful screenings
![A bunch of cigarette butts in an ashtray](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/cigarettes-83571_smaller.jpg)
Effective Smoke Screens
Smoking cessation screenings given to identified smokers at 93 percent of patient visit— up from 0 percent.
- Tobacco use accounts for 1 in 10 adult deaths and kills more than 5 million people annually—an average of one person every six seconds.
- Printing out registration slips with questions regarding smoking, so smokers can identify themselves up front.
![Nurse typing and looking at a computer screen](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/rs28684_kspatl_638-scr.jpg)
HPV Mission: Identify and Immunize
Nurses worked with their information technology colleagues to make computer upgrades that led to better immunization rates.
- The HPV vaccine can help reduce the risk of cervical cancer, but if shots aren’t completed in time the series must be started all over.
- The team worked with IT staff to identify 11- and 12-year old girls who needed the vaccine, and contacted parents to make appointments
![Nurse tends to an infant in an incubator](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/rs816_rag_11_08_24-198-scr.jpg)
Easing the Pain for Babies, Families
NICU team improves service scores and provides better service by educating new parents about infant pain management.
- Caregivers want not only to manage babies’ pain but also alleviate parents’ anxieties and help them know what to expect.
- Use a consistent script to discuss pain management during the admission process and keep parents informed throughout the baby’s stay in the NICU