Many issues facing our healthcare systems, such as rising costs, staffing shortages, supply chain disruptions, why should sustainability be top of mind for healthcare organizations and what they how can they improve their sustainability journey.

Rebecca Hou, Environmental Sustainability product advisor for Vizient joins Host LaTammy Marks to discuss this important issue.

Guests:

Rebecca Hou

Environmental Sustainability Product Advisor

Vizient

Moderator:

LaTammy Marks

PI Program Director

Vizient

Show Notes:

[01:23 – 02:19]  Rebecca’s role at Vizient

[02:20 – 04:18]  Why environmental sustainability should be top of mind in healthcare

[04:19 – 05:32]  Health risks our patient populations can face

[05:33 – 07:00]  Hospitals focus on increased health risk utilization to improve sustainability

[07:01 – 08:44]  How organizations are contributing to the environmental risk

[08:45 – 10:35]  What healthcare organizations can do to decrease emissions

[10:36 – 12:05]  The number one thing that organizations can do to start focusing on sustainability

For more information, email [email protected]

Subscribe Today!

Apple Podcasts

Amazon Podcasts

Spotify

Google Podcasts

Android

Stitcher

RSS Feed

We have a Workplace Violence Survey underway now. The survey consists of 9 questions related to 4 outcome metrics. The deadline to submit data is August 18, 2023. If interested, please contact [email protected]

Closing out Workplace Violence Awareness Month, Lindsay Mayer and Heidi Boehm deep dive into protocols and procedures for dealing with the aftermath of a violent event.

Guest speaker:

Moderator:

Show Notes:

[01:02] Survey employees to learn how supported they feel.    

[02:59] Awareness campaigns help reduce workplace violence.   

[05:39] Implement a comprehensive and standardized debriefing process.   

[08:37] Simply checking in with staff, post-event, is a powerful tool.

[09:50] COVID has impacted the launch of a post-event leadership guidebook.    

[11:02] Routine, ongoing data collection is very important.

[12:29] Leaders must be equipped with the necessary tools.

For more information, email [email protected]

Subscribe Today!

Apple Podcasts

Amazon Podcasts

Spotify

Android

RSS Feed

We have a Workplace Violence Survey underway now. The survey consists of 9 questions related to 4 outcome metrics. The deadline to submit data is August 18, 2023. If interested, please contact [email protected]

Continuing the discussion for Workplace Violence Awareness Month, Lindsay Mayer, Rick Litzinger, and Dan Hunnisett explore the importance of building a solid foundation for staff education and training programs around workplace violence.

Guest speaker:

Dan Hunnisett

Moderator:

Show Notes:

[01:26] Education is foundational in addressing workplace violence, so it is vital to assess your organization’s training gaps and educational needs.    

[03:00] Strong training programs include several key components.   

[03:54] Altru’s multi-tiered training curriculum.   

[07:09] The challenges and successes of virtual learning, as experienced during the pandemic.

[08:44] Surveys are extremely important in understanding your organization’s culture of safety, as well as education needs and preferences.    

[11:01] Recommended to strengthen your training program: Data collection and cross-discipline strategic partnerships.

For more information, email [email protected]

Subscribe Today!

Apple Podcasts

Amazon Podcasts

Spotify

Android

RSS Feed

We have a Workplace Violence Survey underway now. The survey consists of 9 questions related to 4 outcome metrics. The deadline to submit data is August 18, 2023. If interested, please contact [email protected]

In recognition of Workplace Violence Awareness Month, Lindsay Mayer, Mark Reed, and Diana Scott discuss the latest workplace violence statistics and the trends organizations are facing within the industry.

Guest speaker:

Diana Scott

Moderator:

Show Notes:

[01:53] Workplace violence has increased continuously throughout 2020 and 2021.

[02:49] The pandemic is a major contributing factor.  

[04:30] The workforce shortage has impacted organizations.  

[05:38] The Joint Commission has released new requirements for 2022.

[08:24] Organizations are implementing unique and innovative strategies.   

[10:55] Leaders can aid in addressing and preventing workplace violence.

For more information, email [email protected]

Subscribe Today!

Apple Podcasts

Amazon Podcasts

Spotify

Android

RSS Feed

More and more, healthcare organizations are focusing on Advance Care Planning as a best practice for treating patients with multiple chronic conditions. This approach can be particularly beneficial in working with patients who have exhausted treatment options and approach end of life. On this episode, two clinical leaders from The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania discuss their approach to Advance Care Planning.

Guest speakers:

Rachel Mea, MSN, RN, OCN

Clinical Practice Lead

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Erin Lightheart, MBA

Master Improvement Advisor

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Host:

Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ

PI Program Director

Vizient

Show Notes:

[00:23] Advance Care Planning defined; rationale for this approach

[01:09] Origins of initiative at Penn Medicine

[02:03] Starting point

[02:49] Avoiding moral distress among clinicians

[04:00] Improved communications

[05:10] Challenges

[06:07] Outcomes

[06:47] What’s next

[07:29] Feedback; relevance to families

Links | Resources:

Contacting Knowledge on the Go: [email protected]

Shannon’s email: [email protected]

Erin’s email: [email protected]

Rachel’s email: [email protected]

Subscribe Today!

Apple Podcasts

Amazon Podcasts

Spotify

Google Podcasts

Android

Stitcher

RSS Feed

Most hospital patients spend over 80 percent of their stay in the bed. Immobility contributes to higher lengths of stay, increases in falls, pressure injuries and new nursing home placements. All of this reduces overall quality of care and patient satisfaction. On this episode, we examine a health care organization that has embarked on a journey to reverse this trend by getting patients up and moving all across the hospital. ThedaCare participated in the Creating a Culture of Mobility Collaborative, and we’ll provide the details on this podcast.

Guest speakers:

Kelly Parish, DPT

Physical Therapist

ThedaCare

Amy Shadick, RN, BSN, CV-BC

Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit Manager

ThedaCare

Host:

Laura Hoffman, DNP, MSN, RN, CPHQ

Performance Improvement Program Director

Vizient

Show Notes:

[01:26] Empowering patients by improving their handling

[02:10] Story of bariatric patient who became mobile

[02:58] Use of Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool (BMAT)

[03:36] Training in patient handling: didactic and hands-on

[05:45] Meaning of safe patient handling; equipment used for initiative

[07:03] Details and impact of hands-on training: 3 fewer nursing injuries, 10 fewer falls

[08:56] Mobilizing patients and effect on falls

[11:20] Metrics on new program

[12:09] Future plans and partnerships

Links | Resources:

Contacting Knowledge on the Go: [email protected]

Laura’s email: [email protected]

Kelly’s email: [email protected]

Amy’s email: [email protected]

Subscribe Today!

Apple Podcasts

Amazon Podcasts

Spotify

Google Podcasts

Android

Stitcher

RSS Feed

Telehealth found wide adoption and acceptance during the pandemic, accompanied with loosened government restrictions on its use. On this episode, two experts examine the current state of telehealth, bolstered by findings from the project Effective Strategies for Sustaining and Optimizing Telehealth in Primary Care conducted by Vizient and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Guest speaker:

Danielle Carder, MSc

Senior Program Specialist

Access and Clinical Innovations

Association of American Medical Colleges

Host:

Courtney Furrow-White, MPM, RN

Senior PI Program Director

Vizient

Show Notes:

[00:26] The project

[00:37] The surge of telehealth

[02:15] Vizient-AAMC partnership: survey and resulting video interviews

[03:37] Foundational investments: technology, work force, care services

[05:25] Effective strategies to incorporate telehealth

[07:05] Provider and staff engagement – physicians as drivers

[08:25] A seamless patient encounter

[09:36] Use of metrics

[10:34] Challenges and barriers

[14:16] Use will continue into the future

Links | Resources:

Contacting Knowledge on the Go: [email protected]

Joint Telehealth Report: Click here

Courtney’s email: [email protected]

Danielle’s email: [email protected]

Subscribe Today!

Apple Podcasts

Amazon Podcasts

Spotify

Google Podcasts

Android

Stitcher

RSS Feed

Since its development over 50 years ago, the stethoscope hasn’t changed much – until now. Enter artificial intelligence (AI). On this episode, we discuss how AI, working with robust datasets, promises to enhance the newest generation of stethoscopes, maybe in the very near future.

Guest speaker:

Moderator:

Show Notes:

[01:36] Deep learning AI algorithms for heart sounds

[03:04] Need for a large data set to train an AI neural network – machine learning

[04:08] Electronic stethoscopes

[05:21] Public databases: the key to development of alternative technologies

[05:33] Phonocardiogram

[07:30] Does it work?

[08:35] Adjunct tool

[09:42] “Hospitals should be buying outcomes, not technologies”

[10:15] Publications and studies to come

[10:53] Improving diagnostic accuracy over time

[12:57] Detecting heart failure (Mayo)

Links | Resources:

Contacting Knowledge on the Go:

[email protected]

Marilyn’s email: [email protected]

Joe’s email: [email protected]

Subscribe Today!

Apple Podcasts

Amazon Podcasts

Spotify

Google Podcasts

Android

Stitcher

RSS Feed

In the wake of COVID, the nation’s health care organizations are experiencing staffing shortages, burnout and other workforce challenges.  Health leaders are turning to innovation, technology and alternative staffing models to address these challenges. Vizient’s Principal of Clinical Workforce Strategy, Dr. Jacqueline Herd, joins us to discuss ways health organizations can improve efficiency, workforce optimization and redesign their models of care.

Guest speaker:

Moderator:

Show Notes:

[01:24] Dr. Jacqueline Herd’s background

[02:47] The need for new models of care to handle shortages and to compete with retail

[04:55] Reimagining workflow involves redesigning how work is done and how to make it more efficient so we stop burnout and exhaustion

[05:27] Models of care that make work more efficient  

[08:05] Working top of license and certification

[10:21] Integrating the community care worker into the care team

[12:16] Understanding what a licensed practical nurse (LPN) can do helps them work at top of license   

[14:52] Virtual nursing

Links | Resources:

Vizient Nursing Workforce Intelligence Report: Click Here

Contact Knowledge on the Go: [email protected]

Jackie Herd’s email:  [email protected]

Amber Hanser’s email: [email protected]

Subscribe Today!

Apple Podcasts

Amazon Podcasts

Spotify

Google Podcasts

Android

Stitcher

RSS Feed

Patient length of stay (LOS) is a crucial measurement for health care organizations since longer patient stays increase patient risk for complications while reducing patient satisfaction. They also represent higher costs for the hospital. At the University of Kentucky, using a model of short-term improvement actions called “sprints,” along with participation in a Vizient performance improvement collaborative and the commitment of senior leaders, a clinical performance team has led an initiative to reduce LOS that has produced strong, ongoing results.

Guest speakers:

Jennifer Rose, MBA

Associate Vice President

Core Clinical and Performance Services

UK HealthCare

Lauren Miller, MBA

Senior Quality Improvement Specialist

Core Clinical and Performance Services

UK HealthCare

Moderator:

Margaret Rudisill, MS-HQS, RN

Performance Improvement Program Director

Vizient

Show Notes:

[02:54] Working on reducing LOS at UK HealthCare

[04:00] Joining the Vizient Performance Improvement Collaborative

[04:32] Leadership involvement, participant accountability, process transparency

[06:39] Linking with the stakeholders

[07:46] The Sprint Model and the Forcefield Analysis

[08:51] Three themes

[09:56] How the Sprint brings testing to a quick resolution

[11:09] Sprint example

Links | Resources:

Contacting Knowledge on the Go: [email protected]

Margaret’s email: [email protected]

Jennifer’s email: [email protected]

Lauren’s email: [email protected]

Sample Forcefield Analysis: Forcefield Analysis Template

Subscribe Today!

Apple Podcasts

Amazon Podcasts

Spotify

Google Podcasts

Android

Stitcher

RSS Feed