A Healthcare Financial Management (HFMA) Report came out recently that talked about financial challenges facing hospitals and how they are dealing with them. One of the surveys noted more attention being given to process improvements.
Its not just a "quality thing", its also a "cost control thing". A wasteful process can cost you thousands of dollars and countless hours of wasted time. Especially if you look deeper at an area like medications.
We recently assessed a large hospital and uncovered over $900,000 worth of wasted medications and pharamacy and nursing time due to a less than ideal workflow. We, of course, position this as an opportunity for the hospital to decrease expenses in both waste and time. Most hospitals want the change, they just don't know where to start. Medications is a great place to begin.
I believe in my work.
Claire
Monday, June 21, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
My Experience With Don Berwick
Most thought leaders in healthcare know who Don Berwick is. Most healthcare workers on the front lines do not; nor do the general public; nor did I up until two years ago. In April of 2007, I embarked on a public relations mission to develop relationships with healthcare trade associations that influence patient safety. The objective was to build relationships on behalf of my employer so our clinical consultants could learn from the organizations, network, and market our system improvement consulting. I hired a consulting firm to help me determine, out of the myriad of healthcare organizations, which were the most influential in this space.
As a communications professional, I make it my duty to look for, and understand communication styles, channels and opportunities for engagement in order to find the best ways to understand and communicate with the marketplace. Sometimes I try the most modern and innovative techniques (like this blog), and sometimes I simply go back to basics (like engaging people through questions). My point is that its my job to recognize qualities of ideal communication styles and the people and organizations that are able to successfully engage with their audience and I study them.
Through the trade association research, and the feedback I received from our most seasoned consultants, I was introduced to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). I’ve talked with this organization, studied their offerings, and now I understand the impact the organization is having on the marketplace.
But, my single most inspiring moment working with these organizations was facilitated by the National Patient Safety Foundation at the Lucian Leape Gala I attended in October, 2009. Don Berwick was facilitating an open breakout session on transforming patient safety. I was excited and motivated to hear what this important man had to say.
Around 10 people attended the session. Dr. Berwick began by asking a few questions, and then he asked more questions and then more questions after that. Soon the room was buzzing with discussion and everyone was engaged and ideas were coming alive.
I thought to myself, “hold on - we have one of the most innovative minds in the country leading this breakout. Why is he asking us questions? He should be telling us what to do.
I quickly realized that Dr. Berwick was using questions to drive the process of engagement. He went back to basics, and it was powerful. Socrates once said, “One thing I know, and that is, that I know nothing without questions”…and this took the room from hearing what he has to say, to listening and digesting the ideas of the brilliant minds in the room.
I’m telling this story, because I believe that this will be the method by which Dr. Berwick will engage the country should he be chosen to head CMS. He is a brilliant and inspiring man, not only by the things he chooses to say, but by the way he engages the minds around him to think on a larger, more profound yet practical way.
As a communications professional, I can tell you that people hear what they are listening for. And I am fortunate enough to be listening for the most innovative people, organizations and approaches to healthcare improvement. And my experience in the room that day made me feel like I was part of something with a noble purpose, talking with a man whose passion and ceaseless ambition, one day, just may save the industry.
Most thought leaders in healthcare know who Don Berwick is. Most healthcare workers on the front lines do not; nor do the general public; nor did I up until two years ago. I started asking questions and I encourage frontline healthcare workers to do the same. Ask: who can lead us in these important changes?
I believe, the question will lead them to the same place it lead me – to a place where the right man, lead the right people, asked the right questions, at the right time in order for us to figure out the best answers on our own.
I believe in my work.
Claire
As a communications professional, I make it my duty to look for, and understand communication styles, channels and opportunities for engagement in order to find the best ways to understand and communicate with the marketplace. Sometimes I try the most modern and innovative techniques (like this blog), and sometimes I simply go back to basics (like engaging people through questions). My point is that its my job to recognize qualities of ideal communication styles and the people and organizations that are able to successfully engage with their audience and I study them.
Through the trade association research, and the feedback I received from our most seasoned consultants, I was introduced to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). I’ve talked with this organization, studied their offerings, and now I understand the impact the organization is having on the marketplace.
But, my single most inspiring moment working with these organizations was facilitated by the National Patient Safety Foundation at the Lucian Leape Gala I attended in October, 2009. Don Berwick was facilitating an open breakout session on transforming patient safety. I was excited and motivated to hear what this important man had to say.
Around 10 people attended the session. Dr. Berwick began by asking a few questions, and then he asked more questions and then more questions after that. Soon the room was buzzing with discussion and everyone was engaged and ideas were coming alive.
I thought to myself, “hold on - we have one of the most innovative minds in the country leading this breakout. Why is he asking us questions? He should be telling us what to do.
I quickly realized that Dr. Berwick was using questions to drive the process of engagement. He went back to basics, and it was powerful. Socrates once said, “One thing I know, and that is, that I know nothing without questions”…and this took the room from hearing what he has to say, to listening and digesting the ideas of the brilliant minds in the room.
I’m telling this story, because I believe that this will be the method by which Dr. Berwick will engage the country should he be chosen to head CMS. He is a brilliant and inspiring man, not only by the things he chooses to say, but by the way he engages the minds around him to think on a larger, more profound yet practical way.
As a communications professional, I can tell you that people hear what they are listening for. And I am fortunate enough to be listening for the most innovative people, organizations and approaches to healthcare improvement. And my experience in the room that day made me feel like I was part of something with a noble purpose, talking with a man whose passion and ceaseless ambition, one day, just may save the industry.
Most thought leaders in healthcare know who Don Berwick is. Most healthcare workers on the front lines do not; nor do the general public; nor did I up until two years ago. I started asking questions and I encourage frontline healthcare workers to do the same. Ask: who can lead us in these important changes?
I believe, the question will lead them to the same place it lead me – to a place where the right man, lead the right people, asked the right questions, at the right time in order for us to figure out the best answers on our own.
I believe in my work.
Claire
Monday, February 15, 2010
Meaningful Use - Is There a Map For That?
We launched a new solution last week to help hospitals achieve Meaningful Use (see press release here). It seems like implementing EHR systems is an enormous undertaking - but completely necessary for hospitals to move into the 21st century. I wonder what the expectations are - internally, at the hospital. Sometimes we look at technology like its the answer to all our problems. "There must be an app for that somewhere," we say as we search through our pockets. Its good to have guidance on how to use these technologies "meaningfully", but I can't help but notice that all this "stuff" "means" nothing without the person behind it.
Like, how do executives plan to train their staff? Dirk Stanley, MD talks about the role of clinical informatics in an article published by Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare. He talks about workflow being 80% of the solution and technology 20%. Its great article - you should read it.
But I still think that workflow feels like such a distant and stale concept - void of the "people" part. Isn't it the people who make healthcare what it is? Patients included? Data uploaded into the EMR won't get there without a conversation between the patient and the care provider. The buttons won't hit themselves.
I equate this to my iPhone. Lets face it - iPhones are incredible, but, its nothing without me. My husband jokes that if we ever get divorced, its because I left him for my iPhone. I wonder how patient care will be impacted with everyone's head in the new technologies. In all seriousness - its the place where the human experience and the innovative technology meet that makes it meaningful.
I'd like to see more talk about the human application. I guess the published "meaningful use criteria" is the "map for that". And maps don't mean anything if you don't know how to read them.
I believe in my work.
Claire
Like, how do executives plan to train their staff? Dirk Stanley, MD talks about the role of clinical informatics in an article published by Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare. He talks about workflow being 80% of the solution and technology 20%. Its great article - you should read it.
But I still think that workflow feels like such a distant and stale concept - void of the "people" part. Isn't it the people who make healthcare what it is? Patients included? Data uploaded into the EMR won't get there without a conversation between the patient and the care provider. The buttons won't hit themselves.
I equate this to my iPhone. Lets face it - iPhones are incredible, but, its nothing without me. My husband jokes that if we ever get divorced, its because I left him for my iPhone. I wonder how patient care will be impacted with everyone's head in the new technologies. In all seriousness - its the place where the human experience and the innovative technology meet that makes it meaningful.
I'd like to see more talk about the human application. I guess the published "meaningful use criteria" is the "map for that". And maps don't mean anything if you don't know how to read them.
I believe in my work.
Claire
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