MESSAGE FROM QUINT

Thomas Edison once said that vision without action is but a hallucination. In other words, we can say it, but can we do it? I find that in these tough economic times, there is a lot of uncertainty and anxiety in healthcare.
Read Full Article

It’s Now or Never…

Last October, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented its new policy to no longer reimburse hospitals for 11 conditions that were not present upon admission. Since then, CMS had added three additional conditions.
Read Full Article

Deal with Difficult Doctors…

Dr. Gerald Hickson, director of the Center for Patient and Professional Advocacy (CPPA) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, likes to hear patients and healthcare professionals complain. Hickson knows it’s not a perfect world, and he wants patients to share their comments, suggestions, and complaints about how to improve Vanderbilt’s quality of care. In addition, he wants professionals to identify and address any unprofessional behaviors exhibited by their colleagues.
Read Full Article

Reduce Operating Expense…

Two days before Christmas, Sacred Heart Eau Claire Chief Operating Officer Faye Deich communicated a tough message to the leadership team: She needed them to reduce supply expenses by $700,000 by year-end in June, starting now.
Read Full Article

Moving to Magnet…

“Pursuing the Magnet designation for nursing integrates well with the Evidence-Based LeadershipSM tools and tactics we are using from Studer Group. They complement and build on each other," explains White Plains CEO Jon Schandler. "In 2008, we reduced RN turnover by 3% for $1.4 million in savings.”
Read Full Article

Accountability in the Small Hospital…

HR: What is unique to accountability in the small hospital?

GP: It’s both easier and it’s harder than in large environments. There are a lot of universal things—you have to set expectations early, for example. And I consider it to be leadership malpractice in an organization of any size if you aren’t sharing expectations or role modeling what to do. But in a small hospital, we have more access to each other. We’re more nimble because of our size and we have very personal relationships with co-workers because we see them in the grocery store or at the ball game, and know their families.
Read Full Article

Sustain Results…

Sutter Roseville Medical Center, a 325 bed acute care facility and part of the Sutter Health System in Northern California, faces the same challenges as the rest of healthcare. It also operates in a union environment; must adhere to California’s strict nursing ratio requirements; and cares for patients in a state with one of the lowest populations of RNs nationwide.
Read Full Article

Reduce Infection Rates…

At UMC Tucson—a 350 teaching bed hospital with 4,000 employees in Tucson, AZ—CEO Greg Pivirotto is making the rounds… CEO validation rounds …every single day. In addition to asking what employees need and who he can recognize, Pivirotto hardwires accountability for organizational priorities, like reducing infections.
Read Full Article

Transform the Physician Experience…

Back in 2004, physicians at Advocate Good Samaritan perceived nursing care as uneven. They said quality was good but inconsistent, and patient satisfaction was mediocre. Increasingly, technology and facilities were perceived as slipping behind in the county’s ‘medical arms race.’ To address these perceptions, the hospital launched a Moving from Good to Great initiative in mid-2004. The goal: to elevate the hospital’s performance and give patients a reason to choose Good Samaritan over other hospitals. Good Samaritan is a 350 bed hospital with 851 physicians and 2,400 employees in Downers Grove, IL
Read Full Article

Contributors

Julie O’Shaughnessy joined Studer Group as a coach in 2004. Since then, 95% of the organizations she has coached have achieved their goals for people, service, quality and financial outcomes. Julie also has 15 years leadership experience in quality and risk management.

Rich Bluni, RN is a Studer Group coach and much sought after speaker recognized for his strong knowledge of operations. Prior to joining Studer Group, Rich reduced fall rates by 50% in his organization.

Christina Román brings nearly 20 years experience writing on healthcare to her role as managing editor of Hardwired Results.