Innovations
Hospital System-Based Changes Enhance Throughput and Meet Increased Demand Without Adding New Facilities 5/8/2013
The Lehigh Valley Health Network made systems-based changes to a variety of key processes related to patient throughput, allowing the network to meet increased demand for its services.
Interdisciplinary Team Identifies and Addresses Risk Factors for Falls Among Nursing Home Residents, Leading to Fewer Falls and Less Use of Restraints 5/8/2013
Ethica Health and Retirement Communities developed a falls management program, the cornerstone of which is an interdisciplinary "falls team" at each nursing home that regularly assesses residents for risk of falling and develops intervention plans for those found at high risk.
Streamlined Evaluation, Transfer, and Admission Processes Significantly Reduce Waiting Times for Emergency Department Patients Awaiting Admission to Psychiatric Facility 5/8/2013
A multidisciplinary team from a medical center and its affiliated psychiatric hospital streamlined the evaluation, transfer, and admission processes for psychiatric patients presenting to the emergency department, leading to a significant decline in waiting times before transfer to the psychiatric facility.
Electronic Medical Record–Based System Featuring "Soft" and "Hard" Stops Significantly Improves Completion of Medication Reconciliation 5/1/2013
An electronic medical record–based system features "soft" and "hard" stop functions designed to ensure that clinicians perform medication reconciliation, leading to a rapid, significant, and sustained increase in adherence rates.
Verification Screen That Includes Prominent Patient Photograph Significantly Reduces Errors Caused by Orders Placed in Wrong Chart 4/24/2013
A children’s hospital requires providers to look at a patient’s picture and basic demographic information on a verification screen when entering and signing an order, leading to significant reductions in patients receiving or almost receiving care intended for someone else because of an order being placed in the wrong chart.
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