North Dakota CAH Quality Network Initiatives
Initiatives:
- TeamSTEPPS — An evidence-based teamwork system aimed at optimizing patient outcomes by improving communication and other teamwork skills among healthcare professionals.
- The North Dakota Quality Network Healthcare SafetyZone Portal — A browser based data collection and communication solution that creates a funnel enabling data collection from the sharp end of care across the organization to form an integrated data base.
TeamSTEPPS
Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS) was developed by the Department of Defense Patient Safety Program, in collaboration with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). TeamSTEPPS is an evidence-based teamwork system aimed at optimizing patient outcomes by improving communication and other teamwork skills among healthcare professionals. TeamSTEPPS includes a comprehensive suite of ready-to-use materials and training curriculum necessary to successfully integrate teamwork principles into all areas of your healthcare system.
North Dakota hospitals that have received TeamSTEPPS master training include the following:
- Altru Clinic-Lake Region and Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake
- Tioga Medical Center
- Garrison Memorial Hospital
- Sakakawea Medical Center, Hazen
- Medcenter One, Bismarck
- Heart of America Medical Center, Rugby
- Trinity Kenmare Community Hospital
- Innovis Health, Fargo
- Cooperstown Medical Center
- Wishek Community Hospital
- Presentation Medical Center, Rolla
- Southwest Healthcare Services, Bowman
- St. Andrews Health Center, Bottineau
- Jacobson Memorial Hospital, Elgin
- Altru Health System, Grand Forks
- Nelson County Health System, Mcville
- MeritCare Health System, Fargo
- Quentin N Burdick Memorial Healthcare Facility, Belcourt
This initiative is a collaborative effort involving Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the North Dakota Healthcare Review, Inc., and UND Center for Rural Health, and the North Dakota CAH Quality Network.
Future trainings will be offered. The training will provide individuals a train the trainer model, which results in instructors who in turn train and coach staff in targeted work areas. If you are interested in learning more about this please contact Jody Ward at jward@medicine.nodak.edu.
The North Dakota Quality Network Healthcare SafetyZone Portal
The Healthcare SafetyZone (HCSZ) portal is a browser based data collection and communication solution. The HCSZ Portal creates a funnel that enables data collection from the sharp end of care across the organization to form an integrated data base. This can catalyze a coordinated response across the organization and support Total Risk-Quality-Safety –Service Management.
The system allows for individual hospital tracking and analysis of infection reports, medication events, equipment, employee incident, facility/ security, falls, procedural/clinical, patient/family concerns.
Benefits of the portal to individual CAHs include:
- heightened awareness of safety issues and trends;
- improved accuracy and timeliness of data;
- increased communication between departments and sites;
- accelerated action through real-time communication with instant analysis allowing for potentially adverse trends to bubble to the surface faster; reduced paper forms
- increased staff time for direct care;
- cost savings;
- reduced duplication of data entry;
- enhanced quality of care and patient safety.
Benefits of the portal to the Network include:
- opportunities to leverage education through a shared knowledge library that is specific to CAH needs;
- share resources and best practices;
- one-stop look for information;
- on-line forum provides a way to post questions and have discussions around immediate needs;
- access to technical assistance;
- ability to benchmark data with like-facilities.
Funding support for the project is through individual hospital subscriptions with funds from the North Dakota Medicare Rural Hospital flexibility Program (Flex) administered through the UND Center for Rural Health.
Health Care Safety Zone portal project members:
- First Care Health Center, Park River
- Heart of America Medical Center, Rugby
- Hillsboro Medical Center, Hillsboro
- Jacobson Memorial Hospital, Elgin
- McKenzie County Memorial Hospital, Watford City
- Nelson County Health System, McVille
- Northwood Deaconess Health Center, Northwood
- St. Aloisius Medical Center, Harvey
- Sakakawea Medical Center, Hazen
- Southwest Health Care, Bowman
- Tioga Medical Center, Tioga
- Towner County Medical Center, Cando
- Union Hospital, Mayville
- Unity Medical Center, Grafton
The project builds upon an eight month pilot and is continuing forward with 14 participants. They will continue to build on templates and protocols as a group and share data within this group. Additional CAHs are welcome to participate and can obtain more information from Jody Ward CAH Quality Network Coordinator by email jward@medicine.nodak.edu or call 701-858-6729.
The North Dakota CAH Quality Network Coordinator provides technical assistance to the participants; including analysis of aggregate data and benchmarking within the pilot group; supports the facilitation of shared quality related best practices, information and resources; and manages the knowledge library. The Healthcare Safety Zone is a product of Clarity Group Inc. For more information please contact Jody Ward, RN, BSN, Network Coordinator at jward@medicine.nodak.edu or 701.858.6729.
