Patient Safety Improvements: 2021

Communication

• IMPROVEMENT! Resolution of TC-51 connectivity issues, allowing for improved communication with peers and providers, reducing and streamlining workload (May 2021)
• NEW! “Safety Share” site on CovNet, direct and anonymous way to report safety concerns (April 2021)
• NEW! “Safety Spotlight” in Regional Review newsletters, to celebrate safety successes (May 2021)
• NEW! Culture of Patient Safety Flyers, with monthly updates on safety-related topics (June 2021)

Teamwork Across Units

• NEW! Hand-off communication process launched between the Emergency Department and acute care units to report on patients being admitted (July 2021)
• NEW! Connect Messenger initiated by Pharmacy for nursing to directly contact their unit’s clinical pharmacist to expedite timely medication administration and resolution of questions related to medication orders (May 2021)
• NEW! The Laboratory, ED and Critical Care developed an escalation process for calling critical laboratory values (May 2021)
• IMPROVEMENT! TC-51s provided to Transport: allows for immediate access to important patient safety details by scanning patient armbands (July 2021)

Management Support

• EQUIPMENT!
  • Safe Patient Handling: purchased additional Sara Stedy devices for safe patient transfers – to protect our patients and reduce employee injuries across more departments (July 2021)
  • CAPR (Controlled Air Purifying Respirator): purchased additional devices for safety of staff working in airborne isolation or enhanced droplet precautions isolation rooms, for a total of 42 CAPRs available (August 2021)
  • Security camera replacement/expansion of video capability in hallways and around the campus (2021, Ongoing)
  • Nihon Kohden (cardiac monitoring system) upgrade completed; first step to enable us to connect cardiac alarms to the nurse call system (Interface in progress)
  • WanderGuard Blue System: protects cognitively impaired patients from wandering off 5N (Installed; Go-live pending)
  • Forward-propelled critical care beds and ED stretchers implemented to reduce employee injuries and increase efficiency, establishing a new standard for patient transport (March 2021)
• RENEWED FOCUS! Weekly multidisciplinary physician huddle reinstated during 2nd COVID-19 surge to assess and plan actions to address operations challenges (August 2021)
• NEW! Patient Safety Officer/Patient Safety Delegates, dedicating time for patient safety initiatives (March 2021)

Staffing

• PAY
  • COVID pay incentives including:
    • COVID cash bonus payments
    • COVID CTO allotment
    • COVID Employee Assistance Fund
  • Reviewed and adjusted pay rates in critical staffing areas
  • Implemented retention bonus strategies for key areas
  • Created sign-on bonus programs for “hot jobs”
• SCHEDULING/STAFFING
  • Scheduling incentive programs implemented
  • Seasonal RNs placed in facility for support
  • 287 Travelers placed in facility for support (June 2020-June 2021)
• BENEFITS
  • Continued 401K match for 30+ years: 2020 employer contribution was $15,902,010
  • Student loan repayment assistance program
  • Educational Assistance/Tuition Reimbursement
    • Increased tuition reimbursement to max IRS limit of $5,250
  • Expanded EAP support offered
• DEVELOPMENT
  • Clinical Preceptor/Coach program established April 2021
  • Over 250 new grads in residency program throughout the system, including 75 at Fort Sanders Regional