Monitoring a patient's pain is essential to quality care. The team in Panorama City kept close tabs on new moms, both in and out of the hospital.
We Fight Pain. New Moms Say, Thank You
Pain management is central to treating patients during and after their hospital stays. The Maternal Health department at the Panorama City Medical Center in Southern California routinely ranks high in HCAHPS scores. And there is a good reason why. To maintain their record, the team standardized when new moms got medication, called them after discharge and held to a no-pass policy of not walking past a room with an activated call light. Their efforts have twice earned them top honors in Southern California in five years.
Here's What Worked
- Standardizing pain medication schedules, and include follow-up calls after discharge
- Reassessing patient and communicating with her when next med is scheduled
- Reinforcing the idea that “every patient is my patient” and have "no-pass" policy
What can your team do to to put the patient at the center?
98
percentile rank in HCAHPS hospital ranking
Act Now—Tools to Help Your Team
- Powerpoint: Easing the Pain for Babies and Families Neonatal Intensive Care Unit discusses pain management
- Powerpoint: Nurses Help Newborns Get Closer to Moms Team increases post-birth skin-to-skin contact
- Poster: Neonatal Unit's Three C's for Outstanding Service Team increases patients' desire to return for next birth.