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Creative Thinking Speeds Up Lab
After it rejiggered its workflows, this lab team cut wait times dramatically.
- Patients waiting an hour at the lab is unacceptable.
- Shifting schedules to accommodate more patients
One on One Improves Scores
Service scores soared after this lab team began a "one-on-one" style of service with technicians handling patients from check-in to blood draw.
- Giving patients more personal care improves service.
- Having lab technicians stay with patient from check in to blood draw
New Needles Bruise Less, Please Patients
Complaints about bruising dropped after this lab team took action to identify the root of the problem and get better supplies.
- A gentle touch shows patients we care and reduces their anxiety.
- Switching to a different needle provider
Ensure On-Time Blood Labs
This team's ability to get results back to doctors quickly improved when it tweaked workflows and schedules.
- Delivering blood results on time provides better patient care.
- Having lab assistants round to pick up blood samples earlier
Speed Up Patient Wait Times
This internal medicine team reduced wait times for patients after it started huddling twice daily and shifted schedules where necessary.
- Speeding up patient's time to see doctor is good service.
- Getting medical assistants to check vitals
Follow-Up Orders Save Lives
Adhering to important guidelines to keep patients safe and healthy after surgery was high after this team educated staff and coordinated with pharmacists and other teams to ensure compliance.
- VTE prophylaxis helps prevent post-operative complications.
- Coordinating with pharmacies to keep with SCIP guidelines
Cut Transport Turnaround Times
This Transport team got patients discharged or to their next destination quicker when they began keeping gurneys where they were needed, cleaned and ready for the next patient.
- Reducing transport times improves inpatient care, service and efficiency.
- Placing equipment where needed
Always Wash Your Hands
The pediatrics team increased hand-washing rates after it put up posters of cute kids as hand-washing reminders and made other common-sense improvements.
- Hand-washing is a simple way to combat inpatient infection.
- Posting reminders to regularly wash hands
How to Improve Telemetry Monitoring
By tightening up processes and communication, this telemetry team improved the way it monitors patients.
- A patient deprived of oxygen for 4 to 6 minutes can suffer brain damage.
- Creating reminders for staff to check monitors
Fighting the Plague of Sick Days
This radiology team reduced sick days after it surveyed employees about attendance policies and created guidelines.
- Absentee workers means drop in productivity and poor member service.
- Rewarding employees who show up with fancy lunch
Fast Pass Reduces Unneeded Tests
The lab team saved time and money when it identified which tests oncology patients actually needed, they created a pass to get patients to the front of the line, and fast-tracked the processing of tests.
- Getting the patient through the lab more quickly gets them diagnosed sooner.
- A "golden ticket" fast track system ensured patients got the tests they needed
Speak Up on Patient Malnutrition
The nutrition team improved communication to better identify and treat malnourished patients.
- Patients with malnutrition may not be apparent during short hospital stay.
- Using key phrases to identify malnourished patients