Quality Update - February 2020
by Mohsina Yusuf
Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital continues to pave the way in using their huddles to deliver impressive quality improvements.
The Quality team debriefed on safety standards and how to handle different safety situations after our Emory Saint Joseph’s team experienced a code silver. While discussing staff knowledge and familiarity of codes and reactions, it occurred to Laura Benson that a daily ritual to remind teams could prove to be beneficial.
Laura, the director for imaging services at Emory Saint Joseph's, implemented “Safety in a Flash” for emergency situations and preparation for regulatory surveys. “Safety in a Flash” is a simple deck of cards used to quiz the team during morning huddle. Emory Saint Joseph’s then rolled out a deck of 80 cards that all huddles began using in the fall. Since then, it has improved staff knowledge significantly with the staff able to readily and accurately answer questions both at the huddle and during regulatory-prep rounding.
Executive leaders from the University of North Carolina Healthcare System visited Emory University Healthcare on Friday, January 24. During their visit, Emory teams shared their experiences with the implementation of a Lean Operating System and showed what Emory Healthcare is doing with EmPower.
The Quality team debriefed on safety standards and how to handle different safety situations after our Emory Saint Joseph’s team experienced a code silver. While discussing staff knowledge and familiarity of codes and reactions, it occurred to Laura Benson that a daily ritual to remind teams could prove to be beneficial.
Laura, the director for imaging services at Emory Saint Joseph's, implemented “Safety in a Flash” for emergency situations and preparation for regulatory surveys. “Safety in a Flash” is a simple deck of cards used to quiz the team during morning huddle. Emory Saint Joseph’s then rolled out a deck of 80 cards that all huddles began using in the fall. Since then, it has improved staff knowledge significantly with the staff able to readily and accurately answer questions both at the huddle and during regulatory-prep rounding.
Executive leaders from the University of North Carolina Healthcare System visited Emory University Healthcare on Friday, January 24. During their visit, Emory teams shared their experiences with the implementation of a Lean Operating System and showed what Emory Healthcare is doing with EmPower.
Their visit included a group tour of pivotal parts of the radiology department at Emory University Hospital. From Tier 1 and Tier 2 huddles to a tour of the 5S inventory room, the University of North Carolina executive leaders got an inside look at our daily management, visual management, and standard work.
Pam Stanley, radiology nursing unit director, explained the standard work confirmation process during the first stop of the tour in the pre-procedure care area.
Pam Stanley, radiology nursing unit director, explained the standard work confirmation process during the first stop of the tour in the pre-procedure care area.
The second stop on the tour was to see the newly reorganized radiology inventory supply room. Karen Bell-Moore, radiology manager, explained the 5S work the quality team used for the process. Mandissa Turner, ultrasound technologist, explained to our visitors how employees sustain the recent improvements and how to know when to re-order supplies.
The tour concluded with an observation of the Tier 1 Huddle led by Radiology Technologist, Aurora Marinescu.
