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Teams Collaborate to Ease Workload
Processing HPV tests now takes less than half the time, so the workload increase has been absorbed with no extra staff.
- Colorado labs process two widely used tests central to Kaiser Permanente’s preventive care approach that detect disease early when treatment is highly effective.
- Teams cross-trained each other on new equipment and on the processes within the two departments.
Preventing Patient Falls
Team reduced patient falls by 40 percent in one year.
- Keeping patients safe is a top priority.
- Daily huddles and debriefs
Preventing Pressure Ulcers
The team went two years without a single instance of a serious pressure ulcer resulting from a respiratory aid.
- We are committed to keeping patients free from hospital-acquired ulcers
- Testing and evaluating new, better supplies and equipment
Small Changes, Healthy Babies
Increase in percentage of little ones with all immunizations current.
- Vaccines help prevent disease.
- Give shots in the exam room instead of the injection clinic
Better, Affordable Care
Cut an average of a day off the length of patient stays.
- Patients get to go home sooner.
- Track and standardize patient mobility protocols
Making Early Detection Easy
Fully 90 percent of patients overdue for screenings agreed to get screened after getting prompted by this eye care team.
- Kaiser Permanente’s unique electronic health record and focus on preventive care helps identifying cancer early. And early treatment saves lives.
- Coaching team on using prompts then tracking how often staff members remind patients to get screenings
Giving Bad Joints the Boot
Instead of patients staying in the hospital two or three days, about 64 percent were discharged within a day of surgery.
- The best place to recover from joint replacement surgery is at home.
- Nurses make post-discharge calls to patients and discuss at team huddles
When The Game Changes, Change Your Game
This team remained flexible and confident in its ability to adjust to change after health care reform transformed their patient population.
- Nearly 80 percent of the department’s patients who have high blood pressure are African American and at greater risk of severe consequences.
- Loaning patients testing kits they can take home helps control blood pressure levels.
Simple, Surprising Savings
Team saves thousands simply by reducing supply waste.
- Keeping costs down helps keep Kaiser Permanente affordable for members and patients.
- Mobilizing all UBT members to use stickers to indicate which supplies they use—and which they could live without
Right Team, Right Tool, Right Test
Reduced lab errors from ten percent to three percent within five months.
- The faster and more accurately patients get their lab results back, the more satisfied they are.
- Standardize workflow for processing lab specimens and orders
Go Green
Eco-projects are saving an estimated $12,000 a year at one medical center.
- Green projects protect the environment, save money and help workers build career skills.
- Enroll the entire EVS department in a green skills certification class
For the Love of Kids
Nearly 35 children took part in this farm-to-table initiative.
- The 2015 National Agreement calls for greater union engagement in community benefit programs.
- Involve childen in growing and cooking their own healthy food