Post-pandemic shifts to virtual, abbreviated onboarding have left many new staff feeling isolated, less confident, and more likely to burn out.

In this episode of Key in to Quality, listeners get a peek into what’s working at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. A nursing team developed an enculturation toolkit designed to intentionally root new nurses in Mayo Clinic’s mission, values, and cultural heritage. The toolkit organizes existing institutional resources into leader-ready activities aligned with evidence-based principles of engagement, meaning, connection, and reflective practice. It supports diverse learning needs and reinforces culture for both new and seasoned staff.

Pilot results showed sustained engagement, stronger understanding of mission and values, and observable behavioral improvements that enrich teamwork and patient experience. The approach is now being explored for broader implementation and potential licensing.

Guests: Crystal Grys | LinkedIn    Melania Flores | LinkedIn

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

#mayokeyintoquality

Healthcare safety often focuses on what went wrong, but what about the moments when harm is stopped before it ever reaches the patient?

In this Key in to Quality episode, host Tim Morgenthaler, M.D., and co-host Sheri Nemec talk with Shari Ochoa, M.D., Ashley Stapp, and Beth Terrio from Mayo Clinic Arizona about the Good Catch “safety in action” program.

They describe how a grassroots idea launched during COVID-19 with simple email shout-outs has grown into a robust recognition program with scoring criteria, dashboards, campus boards, and even a traveling trophy. Along the way, they highlight psychological safety, the five safe behaviors, and the value of recognizing both self-reported and peer-nominated good catches.

Listeners will hear practical advice on starting small, building infrastructure, developing meaningful metrics, and shifting culture from “gotcha” to “good catch,” so staff feel safe speaking up.

#mayokeyintoquality #patientsafety #keyintoquality #qualityimprovement #safetyculture

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

#mayokeyintoquality

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections remain one of the most common yet preventable hospital-acquired infections. In this Key in to Quality episode, host Dr. Tim Morgenthaler, M.D., and co-host Sheri Nemec ask a simple question with big implications: What if we treated every urinary catheter like a high-risk medication?

Guests Hari Korsapati, M.D., Regional Director for Hospital Quality and Chief of Staff at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, M.S., and Alexandra “Alex” Bates, D.N.P., a nursing and quality leader focus on hospital-acquired infections, describing how their team moved CAUTI work from discussion to action.

They outline practical strategies that worked: nurse-driven escalation to the Medical Officer of the Day for second opinions, daily bedside review of Foley necessity on rounds, and an evidence-based urinary management order set aligned with APIC guidelines that favors intermittent catheterization whenever possible.

Listeners will walk away with concrete action steps to standardize practice, assist care teams, and make CAUTI reduction a shared, long-term success.

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

#mayokeyintoquality

Falls don’t just happen at home or in the hospital. In busy ambulatory clinics, patients can stumble in waiting rooms, hallways, and exam rooms with serious consequences.

In this episode of Key In to Quality, vice chair of Quality Tim Morgenthaler, M.D., talks with Steven Kochan, D.N.P., R.N., chair of the Rochester Fall Injury Prevention Subcommittee for Ambulatory Practice, and Lloyd Speer, manager in Midwest Practice Administration and subcommittee co-chair.

The conversation highlights measurable reductions in falls and injuries, a strong reporting culture, and next steps that include using artificial intelligence and video monitoring to identify risk even earlier. Listeners will come away with practical advice on where to start, who to engage, and how small, intentional changes can make outpatient care safer for every patient, every day.

#outpatientfalls #keyintoquality #patientfalls #outpatientsafety #fallprevention

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

#mayokeyintoquality

Can we prevent bathroom falls without losing privacy? Hospital bathrooms are among the riskiest places for inpatient falls...and also the most personal. In this episode of Key in to Quality, Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Allyson Palmer, Amberly Hess, and Cari Guttormson unpack a new initiative designed to prevent bathroom-related falls without sacrificing privacy or independence. The team walks through practical inclusion criteria, use of nurse judgment, and how electronic health record tools and artificial intelligence may eventually support real-time risk identification.

#mayokeyintoquality

Hosted by Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D., and Sheri Nemec. 

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

Guests: Allyson Palmer, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/allyson-palmer/ 
Amberly Hess
Cari Guttormson

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

#mayokeyintoquality

What if every patient had a built-in safety partner? In this episode of Key in to Quality, Safe Patient Handling Coordinator Kelly Drilling explains merging fall prevention and handling into one safety mobility champion role. Frontline champion Marissa Cocker describes day-to-day impact on a neurosurgery floor, helping patients mobilize sooner and guiding colleagues on the right equipment.

The team uses the Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool to tailor safe movement plans, while quarterly champion events build skills with data, hands-on training, and practical communication tactics. Safe Mobility Champions show how early, supported mobility improves outcomes and how language, leadership, and the right tools make safety a shared practice.

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

Guests: Kelly Drilling
Marissa Cocker

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

#mayokeyintoquality

In this episode of Key In to Quality, Dr. Laura Breeher and nurse administrator Paul Lorentz share how Mayo Clinic integrated safe patient handling and falls prevention into one multidisciplinary structure that serves patients and employees alike.

The conversation explores scaling for smaller hospitals, engaging non-nursing roles like transport staff, and designing future care environments (from flooring to lighting) to reduce risk. With patient acuity rising, the team emphasizes continuous improvement, new technology adoption, and celebrating wins (not just investigating injuries). Their advice: find passionate champions and build supportive infrastructure. This is an episode you don’t want to miss. 

#mayokeyintoquality @DrTimMorg  #fallsprevention #safemobility 

Guest Social:  (28) Paul Lorentz, MS, MSN, BBA, RN, RD | LinkedIn

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

#mayokeyintoquality

Safety Huddles and Visual Management: A Creative Fusion for Healthcare Culture of Safety

How can healthcare teams strengthen communication and create a safer environment for patients and staff alike? In this episode of Key In to Quality, hosts Dr. Tim Morgenthaler and Sheri Nemec are joined by Dr. Charles (Chase) Sims, chair of the Rochester Quality Subcommittee at Mayo Clinic, to explore how tiered huddles and visual management boards are driving meaningful culture change.

Born from challenges revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic, these structured daily practices give staff a consistent, transparent way to voice safety concerns and see them addressed. Dr. Sims shares the evolution of Mayo Clinic’s approach, from early resistance to growing staff ownership, and the surprising fellowship that emerged from these morning gatherings. Listeners will hear lessons learned, implementation challenges, and practical advice for organizations ready to begin their own journey toward a stronger safety culture.

#safetyhuddles #mayokeyintoquality

Hosted by Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D., and Sheri Nemec. 

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

Guest: (31) Charles Sims | LinkedIn

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

#mayokeyintoquality

In this second installment of Key In to Quality’s sepsis series, we turn the spotlight on Mayo Clinic Florida. Sepsis, which affects 1.7 million Americans each year, demands rapid recognition and treatment—yet delays remain common and deadly.

Devang Sanghavi, M.D. and Kristine Thompson, M.D. detail how their team tackled the challenge by combining artificial intelligence with human expertise. Their approach pairs highly sensitive AI “sepsis sniffers” with clinician validation to minimize false alarms while ensuring no patient slips through the cracks. Supported by a dynamic electronic checklist and real-time feedback, care teams can act quickly and confidently at the bedside. 

Listeners will gain practical insights on building a strong multidisciplinary team, integrating technology without disrupting workflow, and sustaining momentum to deliver safer, more equitable sepsis care.

Guests: Devang Sanghavi, MD, MHA, FCCP | https://www.linkedin.com/in/devang-sanghavi-md-mha-fccp-6779415/

Kristine Thompson, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-thompson-2403a12b/

#mayokeyintoquality @DrTimMorg  #sepsiscare

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

#mayokeyintoquality

In this episode of Key in to Quality, we hear from the leaders behind the CARES initiative (Champions Advancing Racial Equity in Sepsis), a national effort tackling long-standing disparities in sepsis care. Black and Latinx patients are more likely to experience delays in treatment and worse outcomes, including higher mortality. CARES is working to change that through coalition-based leadership and data-driven strategies aimed at improving equity in care.

Dr. Erika Linnander and Dr. Leslie Curry from Yale School of Public Health, along with Dr. Steven Simpson from the University of Kansas, Sepsis Alliance Chair, share how shifting organizational culture through focused leadership, inclusive coalitions, and smarter data integration can help move the needle. They highlight early wins, common barriers, and practical advice for systems ready to begin their own equity work.

If you’re focused on healthcare quality, patient safety, or equity, this is a thoughtful and insightful conversation worth a listen.

#mayokeyintoquality @DrTimMorg #EndSepsis #SepsisAlliance #WorldSepsisDay #SepsisAwarenessMonth

Guests: Erika Linnander, DrPH, M.B.A | https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikalinnander/

Leslie Curry, PhD, M.P.H. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-curry-yale/

Steve Simpson, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-simpson-92279712/

CARES video

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

#mayokeyintoquality