January 25, 2010
- Atul Gawande’s "The Checklist Manifesto"
- Checklist Updated
- Reducing Avoidable Rehospitalizations
- New Resource for Hospital Leaders
- ICU Safe Care Initiative
- Upcoming Events
Atul Gawande’s "The Checklist Manifesto"
On January 12, Atul Gawande, M.D. spoke to a packed house of Washington hospital leadership. The focus of the event was a celebration of the work done by hospitals across the state in implementing the surgical checklist. More than 85 percent of Washington hospitals having fully implemented, and Dr. Gawande recognized the leadership and hard work of Washington hospitals.
Dr. Gawande focused the presentation on how checklists can make care safer. As the volume and complexity of medical knowledge had grown exponentially, even with best efforts, a health care provider’s ability to consistently provide timely, appropriate care has fallen. Checklists are used to outline critical elements that are easily forgotten in the moment. Use of this tool is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of human ingenuity in figuring out how to use the knowledge now available.
Following the presentation, several hospital leaders participated in a debriefing session to discuss strategies for implementing and sustaining the use of the checklist. A summary of the discussion can be found on the WSHA website. (Carol Wagner, carolw@wsha.org)
Checklist Updated
The surgical checklist has been updated based upon feedback from physicians and operating room staff. The new version will be on the WSHA web site starting on Monday, January 25. In addition, a draft of the ambulatory care checklist will also be posted. The final version of the ambulatory checklist has not yet been approved by the checklist’s development committee. When implementing the checklist for an ambulatory procedure, be sure to plan adequate education with physician champions. Some hospitals have encountered resistance using a checklist as it is a new tool for physicians that do procedures in the ambulatory setting.
For questions or assistance in implementing the checklist, contact Carol Wagner at (206) 577-1831 or carolw@wsha.org. (Carol Wagner, carolw@wsha.org)
Reducing Avoidable Rehospitalizations
On February 4, WSHA will host a Safe Table on reducing avoidable rehospitalizations. This meeting will highlight the strategies used in the Institute for Healthcare Improvements’ STARR, Project RED, Project BOOST, and the work of the American Hospital Association. In addition, there will be discussion of best practices unfolding in Washington.
Hospitals attending will receive rehospitalization reports that show both patient readmission to their hospital and information about patients who were readmitted to another hospital.
To register, contact Janet Van Dyke at janetv@wsha.org or (206) 577-1839. (Carol Wagner, carolw@wsha.org)
New Resource for Hospital Leaders
Hospitals leaders will soon have access to an exciting (and free) resource to help reduce readmissions! On Monday, January 25, the Health Research and Educational Trust (HRET) of the American Hospital Association (AHA) will release the Health Care Leader Action Guide to Reduce Avoidable Readmission. This unique guide provides hospital leaders with an easy-to-use comprehensive overview of the key interventions needed to lower avoidable readmissions. This free, downloadable guide was developed after a collaborative meeting with leaders on the subject. It was funded and produced by the Commonwealth Fund, the John A. Hartford Foundation, and HRET. Beginning Monday, January 25, the guide will be available to download at www.hret.org/readmissions. (Carol Wagner, carolw@wsha.org)
ICU Safe Care Initiative
The ICU Safe Care Initiative is entering its second year! A Safe Table web conference call on the initiative will be held on Wednesday, February 17 at 9:00 am. The goal of the project is to grow capacity and staff skills in performance improvement by fixing defects in hospitals’ systems and eliminate central line infections. It is a collaborative effort of Washington hospitals, Washington State Hospital Association, American Hospital Association, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
You are also invited to participate in monthly one-hour content calls with expert faculty, held the second Tuesday of each month at 11:00 a.m. The call schedule for upcoming calls and slides from past calls are available on the WSHA website. Hospitals that did not participate in this initiative in 2009 are welcome to join in 2010 and may do so by contacting Cat Ernevad at (206) 577-1820 or cate@wsha.org. (Cat Ernevad, cate@wsha.org)
Upcoming Events
Safe Table In-Person meeting – Eliminating Hospital Acquired Infections
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Safe Table In-Person meeting – Patient Safety Practices, Hospital Compare and More
Topic: Rehospitalizations
Thursday, February 4, 2010
9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Safe Table Web Conference – Eliminating Infections
Topic: ICU Safe Care Initiative
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Safe Tables are available exclusively to WSHA member hospitals. A full list of 2010 Safe Table events is posted on the WSHA website. For more information or to register for Safe Table events, please contact Janet Van Dyke at janetv@wsha.org or (206) 577-1839.