Nursing Innovation and Excellence - Baptist Health South Florida

and outpatient centers, using aninclusive, multidisciplinary,grassroots approach. Innovativethinking is encouraged andrewarded. The same tools andframework are used to gatherand analyze data and measureperformance, so best practicescan be shared, replicated or modifiedfor use at any Baptist Healthhospital or outpatient center.We have adopted TransformingCare at the Bedside, a newcare delivery model developedby the Robert Wood JohnsonFoundation and the Institute forHealthcare Improvement toaddress the complexities ofhealthcare in the 21st century.Our performance improvementprojects focus on giving bedsidenurses the freedom and authorityto identify an opportunityand come up with their ownplan to develop measurableimprovements.In 2008, we also launched anew initiative called TRIM (Teams,Refocus, Imagine, Measure). It’s atool for nurses and other frontlinecaregivers to identify areasof improvement and make fasttrackchanges that enhancesafety, quality of care, nurseretention and patient satisfaction.Best nursing and evidence-basedpractices are shared across theorganization and honored atBaptist Health’s annual PerformanceImprovement Conference.TRIM projects are reviewedand judged by Baptist Health’sQuality and Patient Safety SteeringCouncil, based on their creativity,teamwork, impact, sustainabilityand spread. The TRIM Award recognizesthese efforts to improveproductivity and efficiency.In 2009, the Medical ArtsSurgery Center (MASC) at Baptistwon the top TRIM Award forimproving its operating roomturnaround time. When it becameclear that MASC staff was failingto consistently meet their goal ofa 15-minute turnaround time forthe operating rooms, a team ofnurses, physicians and executiveswas formed to review and improvethe process. The team concludedthat staff needed to be educatedabout the impact of turnaroundtime on physician satisfactionand profitability. The team establishedclear targets, createdincentives and discussed thevarious issues with staff. In theend, MASC increased its volumeand revenue while maintaininga high level of patient andphysician satisfaction.Other TRIM projects haveaddressed:■ MRI safety, South Miami Hospital.A nurse-led team mappedout potential hazards andcreated better-defined safetyzones, installing large stopsigns to keep patients and employeeswell out of range of theMRI magnet. Nurses and otheremployees also receivedadditional education, and anMRI safety brochure for patientswas updated.■ Phototherapy in the Mother-Baby Units, Baptist Hospital.Nurses were losing time at thebedside when they had totrack down three separatepieces of equipment neededfor light treatment to correctjaundice in newborns. To solvethe problem, additional equipmentwas purchased and allequipment was stored inCheryl Signor, R.N.Mariners HospitalNursing was always Cheryl Signor’scareer plan, but after high school, shewas lured into the family real estatebusiness. When the business was sold,Ms. Signor discovered she was stillinterested in becoming a nurse. “Mygrandmother passed away from gallbladder surgery due to a surgical error.That piqued my interest.” She startedout at Mariners as a patient care techfour years ago, then became a BaptistHealth Nurse Scholar to earn herassociate degree from Florida KeysCommunity College. She is now studyingin an R.N.-to-BSN program. “Workingwith Baptist, there are so manyopportunities to advance and furtheryour education,” said Ms. Signor, whowas named Mariners’ Nurse of the Yearfor 2009. As a preceptor for the VersantRN Residency program, she wasmatched with her first Versantresident in 2009. “I can sympathizewith her because I’m still a newernurse. It makes me realize how farI’ve come along in only three years.”BAPTIST HEALTH 15 NURSING REPORT