Vila Health: Creating a Culture of Evidence You continue your ✓ Solved

Vila Health is focusing on creating a culture of evidence at St. Anthony Medical Center. The organization conducted an evidence-based intervention to address poor patient safety scores, and now it's time to review data regarding the results of this intervention. Additionally, recommendations are needed to help the hospital forge ahead in fostering a culture of evidence.

The interim report indicates developments, particularly in incidents such as patient falls and medical errors, along with staff engagement with the new Incident Reporting system. Reports from nursing and environmental services personnel indicate positive changes and the importance of maintaining a clean and safe environment as part of the effort to reduce accidents and improve patient safety.

Your task is to complete a final report that addresses various aspects of this initiative by examining differing opinions among medical staff, the organizational culture, leadership strategies, and effective communication planning to share results with stakeholders throughout the hospital.

Paper For Above Instructions

Creating a culture of evidence within healthcare organizations like St. Anthony Medical Center is crucial for improving quality and safety outcomes. Evidence-based practice (EBP) interventions play a pivotal role in addressing significant issues such as patient safety scores, which have proven to be problematic. This paper reviews the outcomes of the evidence-based intervention related to patient safety and makes recommendations for further development.

Data Review and Intervention Outcomes

The data collected from the PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycles over a three-month period highlighted critical areas of concern that needed addressing. According to the 2020 tracking system data, patient falls, medical errors, and incidents involving staff injuries were prevalent. Specifically, the data revealed that:

  • Patient Falls: Expected (0) - Observed (3)

  • Medical Errors Causing Patient Allergic Reactions: Expected (0) - Observed (2)

  • Incidents involving Staff in Emergency Department: Various observed incidents leading to injury

However, there were improvements noted when comparing the first quarter of 2020 to the previous years (2018 and 2019). The incidents where no patient falls occurred in the critical care unit and the reduced number of medical errors present a positive trend.

Cultural Considerations in the Organization

Organizational culture significantly influences the adoption of EBP. A culture that values continuous improvement and evidence-based decision-making can lead to enhanced patient care and safety. In the case of St. Anthony Medical Center, it’s essential to identify and address any differing opinions within the medical staff. These differences in perspectives could stem from previous experiences, comfort levels with change, and understanding of EBP processes.

For instance, some medical staff might be skeptical about the new Incident Reporting system. Others might have concerns regarding the implementation of new protocols if these protocols do not align with past practices. It is therefore vital to engage staff openly in discussions and address their concerns, which can help foster buy-in and support for ongoing initiatives.

Leadership Strategies for Sustainability

Effective leadership strategies are paramount in ensuring the sustainability of the EBP initiatives at St. Anthony Medical Center. It is essential to have leaders who champion the values of EBP and create an environment that encourages staff to share ideas and feedback. Leadership should not only promote adherence to best practices but also model behaviors that embody a culture of learning and safety.

Encouraging regular huddles and staff meetings, much like the Lead Nurse’s huddles implemented in the ICU, can promote continuous communication and collaboration. Furthermore, recognition of staff efforts, including the successes stemming from the PDSA cycles, reinforces a culture of appreciation and continual improvement (Baker et al., 2021). Engaging stakeholders through education and training is also essential to raise awareness about the importance of patient safety and the role each staff member plays in achieving these goals.

Communication Planning

Communication plays a vital role in sharing the results of the intervention and gaining the support of various stakeholders. It is crucial to develop a comprehensive communication plan that outlines how outcomes and successes will be shared across the organization. This could include town halls, newsletters, and team meetings that focus on transparency and inclusivity.

Utilizing visual aids like educational posters, as proposed by the Lead Nurse, can serve as a constant reminder of the importance of safety protocols while fostering an environment of accountability (Bardach et al., 2020). Communication efforts should also encompass feedback solicitation, allowing stakeholders to voice their opinions and contribute to the EBP culture actively.

Recommendations for Moving Forward

To continue fostering a culture of evidence-based practice and ensure sustainable improvements in patient safety, the following recommendations should be considered:

  • Conduct regular training sessions to keep all staff updated on best practices related to EBP.

  • Implement transparent reporting systems to share outcomes and lessons learned from interventions.

  • Engage staff in decision-making processes related to patient safety improvements.

  • Promote leadership support by involving nursing leadership in EBP initiatives actively.

  • Utilize patient and staff feedback to refine ongoing interventions continuously.

These strategic steps can help solidify the culture of evidence within St. Anthony Medical Center, leading to improved patient outcomes and increased staff engagement.

Conclusion

In summary, the review of patient safety interventions at St. Anthony Medical Center demonstrates the importance of data-driven approaches, cultural sensitivity, effective leadership strategies, and robust communication in fostering a culture of evidence-based practice. By addressing the core issues identified through the PDSA cycles and implementing the mentioned recommendations, the medical center can enhance its level of care and safety for both patients and staff.

References

  • Baker, S. J., Smith, R. A., & Jones, T. L. (2021). Leadership in healthcare: A comprehensive review. Journal of Healthcare Leadership, 13, 1-12.

  • Bardach, N. S., et al. (2020). Promoting safety in hospitals: The role of leadership in patient safety culture. American Journal of Medical Quality, 35(3), 182-191.

  • Berwick, D. M. (2020). The science of improvement: Achieving the vision of patient safety. Health Affairs, 39(3), 1-4.

  • Groene, O. F., et al. (2019). The impact of organizational culture on patient safety: A systematic literature review. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 31(5), 335-343.

  • Marques, A. C. (2020). Evidence-based practice in nursing: Strategies for overcoming barriers to implementation. Nursing Management, 27(3), 34-40.

  • McGowan, J., et al. (2019). Evidence-based practice: A guide to implementing and sustaining improvements in the healthcare setting. Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare, 17(2), 85-92.

  • Nutbeam, D. (2020). Communication and engagement strategies in health promotion: A focus on organizational culture. Health Promotion International, 35(2), 205-215.

  • Rosen, M. A., et al. (2020). Creating a safety culture: Collaborative strategies for improving institutional safety practices. Journal of Healthcare Management, 65(5), 325-339.

  • Weaver, S. J., et al. (2018). The role of leadership in creating a patient safety culture. American Journal of Nursing, 118(5), 50-54.

  • Young, R. J., et al. (2019). Stakeholder engagement strategies: Key roles for successful EBP implementation. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 34(2), 120-126.