Zero Harm: An Achievable Goal
This article is focused on the safety of the patients as well as employees and visitors, and how this can be achieved many times over in the medical facility. There is an example of one healthcare system where is shown how they have increased hand hygiene compliance and decreased infections throughout the facility with the help of the Joint Commission.
Many organizations are apprehensive to start any new processes to lower harm in their facilities, although there are several companies that can help the organization achieve this. In the article, Lean Six Sigma is mentioned, this is a process that has been proven to be excellent in the automotive industry, although only good in healthcare. Data shows that it is very difficult to apply the Lean model in a healthcare facility, yet we continue to use it hoping that it will provide also excellent results; kind of like the influenza vaccine.
One of the ways the hand hygiene process was improved, was using the Targeted Tool Solution, a database that records hand hygiene compliance for all staff, a tool that can be used by managers and staff alike; this tool also has a mobile application. Many of the healthcare systems can use this program to trace hand hygiene compliance, even though it relies of others observing other employees, at times it might not be as reliable.
Along with Lean Six Sigma and the Targeted Tool Solutions, the system can start in the path of achieving zero harm, in addition; the organization can use Oro 2.0 High Reliability Organizational Assessment that can help the leadership get closer to the goal. This organization is endorsed and part of the Joint Commission and can be put in place in any healthcare organization.
In my organization we have use two of these, The Targeted Tool Solution (TST) and the Lean Siz Sigma, the TST program is working well, but I can tell most of the data is filled at the end of the day or week, just to make up the numbers. The lean Six Sigma, is also used with mixed results, this is something I have seen in many of the medical centers I have worked.
Conclusion
All of these tools are great, and they can be used as a great way to improve the care of our patients, they can work great, if used correctly. Management can have all the desire, the directors, managers; but these tools rely on the actual staff members to make them work. If the employee is not motivated, unaware, or simply does not care about the TST program, they will not particiate in the program, not allowing the numbers to work. At the end of the day, implementing these new practices, will rely heavily on the buy-in from everyone, not just the management.
This article is focused on the safety of the patients as well as employees and visitors, and how this can be achieved many times over in the medical facility. There is an example of one healthcare system where is shown how they have increased hand hygiene compliance and decreased infections throughout the facility with the help of the Joint Commission.
Many organizations are apprehensive to start any new processes to lower harm in their facilities, although there are several companies that can help the organization achieve this. In the article, Lean Six Sigma is mentioned, this is a process that has been proven to be excellent in the automotive industry, although only good in healthcare. Data shows that it is very difficult to apply the Lean model in a healthcare facility, yet we continue to use it hoping that it will provide also excellent results; kind of like the influenza vaccine.
One of the ways the hand hygiene process was improved, was using the Targeted Tool Solution, a database that records hand hygiene compliance for all staff, a tool that can be used by managers and staff alike; this tool also has a mobile application. Many of the healthcare systems can use this program to trace hand hygiene compliance, even though it relies of others observing other employees, at times it might not be as reliable.
Along with Lean Six Sigma and the Targeted Tool Solutions, the system can start in the path of achieving zero harm, in addition; the organization can use Oro 2.0 High Reliability Organizational Assessment that can help the leadership get closer to the goal. This organization is endorsed and part of the Joint Commission and can be put in place in any healthcare organization.
In my organization we have use two of these, The Targeted Tool Solution (TST) and the Lean Siz Sigma, the TST program is working well, but I can tell most of the data is filled at the end of the day or week, just to make up the numbers. The lean Six Sigma, is also used with mixed results, this is something I have seen in many of the medical centers I have worked.
Conclusion
All of these tools are great, and they can be used as a great way to improve the care of our patients, they can work great, if used correctly. Management can have all the desire, the directors, managers; but these tools rely on the actual staff members to make them work. If the employee is not motivated, unaware, or simply does not care about the TST program, they will not particiate in the program, not allowing the numbers to work. At the end of the day, implementing these new practices, will rely heavily on the buy-in from everyone, not just the management.