Anticipatory management communication in end-of-shift medicine and nursing handoffs

"The different frequencies for types of AMC likely reflect differences in how residents and nurses work and disparate professional cultures. But, verbal communication in both groups included important information unlikely to be captured in written handoff tools or the electronic medical record, underscoring the importance of direct communication to ensure safe handoffs."

“Mr Smith's been our problem child today…”: anticipatory management communication (AMC) in VA end-of-shift medicine and nursing handoffs
AA Bergman, ME Flanagan, PR Ebright, CM O'Brien, RM Franke
BMJ Quality and Safety 2016;25:84-91 doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003694

Read more here.

Routine failures in the process for blood testing and the communication of results to patients in primary care in the UK

"A number of potential failures in testing and communicating results to patients were identified, and some specific ideas for improving existing systems emerged. These included same-day phlebotomy sessions, use of modern technology methods to proactively communicate routine results and targeted training for receptionists handling sensitive data."

Routine failures in the process for blood testing and the communication of results to patients in primary care in the UK: a qualitative exploration of patient and provider perspectives
I Litchfield, L Bentham, A Hill, RJ McManus, R Lilford, S Greenfield
BMJ Quality and Safety 2015;24:681-690 doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003690

Read more here.

Test result communication in primary care

"Our study has shown that the potential for error in the TRC [test result communication] process is large yet seemingly unrecognised in general practice. Staff have yet to introduce technological solutions with the result that the robustness of the system hinges on patients who may be unaware of their responsibility to retrieve results and in many cases act as the system fail-safe."

Test result communication in primary care: a survey of current practice
I Litchfield, L Bentham, R Lilford, RJ McManus, A Hill, S Greenfield
BMJ Quality and Safety 2015;24:691–699. doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003712

Read more here.

Communications in health care improvement - a toolkit

"This toolkit is for health care professionals working in improvement who want to understand and use communications to better plan, implement and spread their work."

Communications in health care improvement - a toolkit
The Health Foundation

Read more here.

Improving paediatric prescribing practice in a district general hospital

"A driver diagram identified three components contributing to prescribing errors and relevant tests of change were developed. The three primary drivers included education and communication, practical prescribing changes, and medicine reconciliation."

Improving paediatric prescribing practice in a district general hospital through implementation of a quality improvement programme
P Donnelly, S Lawson, C Watterson
BMJ Quality Improvement Report2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u206996.w3769

 

Read more here.

Improving discharge communication between secondary and primary care

"Discharge communication is an essential component of transition from secondary to primary care. Our study identifies sub-optimal discharge communication at the OUH Trust, which is likely to be reflected in other trusts. In particular, the areas of concern include medication reconciliation and follow-up plans."
Mind the gap: Improving discharge communication between secondary and primary care
A Cresswell, M Hart, O Suchanek, T Young, L Leaver, S Hibbs
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u207936.w3197

Read more here.

Improving Patient Safety Culture through Teamwork and Communication

"This new HPOE guide outlines the TeamSTEPPS framework, describes teamwork tools and includes examples and case studies illustrating how hospitals and care systems are using TeamSTEPPS to improve patient safety and quality."

Improving Patient Safety Culture through Teamwork and Communication: TeamSTEPPS®
Health Research & Educational Trust
June 2015

Read more here.

Improving feedback from outpatient medical appointments attended by escorted psychiatric patients

"It is therefore vital that good communication channels exist between specialties and that there is a change of culture in psychiatric hospitals where patients’ physical health is considered as important as their mental health."

Improving feedback from outpatient medical appointments attended by escorted psychiatric patients in the North London Forensic Service
K McCurdy, A Croxford
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u205791.w2356

Read more here.

5 basic hospital inefficiencies and their quick fixes

"Although many of the issues that lead to inefficiency may be complex, there are still some quick fixes that can add up to huge savings in both staff time and money. Here are some of the most common hospital inefficiencies and some simple strategies that can help to correct them"

5 basic hospital inefficiencies and their quick fixes
J Henry
Healthcare Dive
February 2015

Read more here.  

Using communications approaches to spread improvement

"The guide is intended for those actively engaged in health care improvement work. It introduces key
concepts about spreading ideas, and examines the evidence about the role communications can play. It then suggests practical actions you can take to effectively communicate and spread your improvement work."

Using communications approaches to spread improvement: A practical guide to help you effectively communicate and spread your improvement work
S Randall
The Health Foundation
March 2015

Read more here.

Improving pain assessment and managment in stroke patients

"After introducing the Abbey pain scale and creating a nurse advocate, an improvement was shown such that only 5% of patients did not have their pain recorded and all had adequate pain relief."

Improving pain assessment and managment in stroke patients
J Nesbitt, S Moxham, G Ramadurai, L Williams
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u203375.w3105

Read more here.

Improving the quality of documentation of referrals to neurosurgery

"The aim of this project was to identify the current level of documentation and improve this through departmental education and implementation of a referral proforma. National guidelines and a literature review were used to formulate the gold standard for high quality documentation."

Giving ourselves a head start: improving the quality of documentation of referrals to neurosurgery
M Storey, S Webster
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u203531.w2516

Read more here.

Ceiling of care decisions at an older person's mental health unit

"The issue was that decisions around ceilings of care for patients were often not discussed or at least recorded in the electronic notes and as a result when reviewing deteriorating patients out of hours trainees would find themselves without any guidance on the treating medics opinion on what was in the best interests of the patient."

Ceiling of care decisions at an older person's mental health unit in Gloucestershire
P Slack, A Rose
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u207618.w3050

Read more here.

Introduction of a new electronic medical weekend handover

"The weekend medical handover system among junior doctors at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury, UK was cumbersome, inadequate and poor, restricting the ability to provide good patient care. 78.6% of doctors felt that the introduction of an electronic weekend handover system would address the issues in order to improve communication between the medical teams and thus improve patient care." 

Introduction of a new electronic medical weekend handover at Tunbridge Wells Hospital
R Vithlani
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u204755.w2342

Read more here.

A tool to improve communication in the neonatal unit

"We sought to assess whether the implementation of a baby diary used as a communication tool would improve parent-staff communication and optimise the parental experience of neonatal care."

A tool to improve communication in the neonatal unit
M van de Vijver, M Evans
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u203180.w3084

Read more here.

Improving multidisciplinary communication at ward board rounds using video enhanced reflective practice

"Video enhanced reflective practice (VERP) provides training based upon analysis of film clips of one’s professional practice to develop practical insight into the processes of communication, so that effective changes can be made to ongoing behaviour and practice."

Improving multidisciplinary communication at ward board rounds using video enhanced reflective practice
C Hellier et al.
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u206968.w2801

Read more here.

Improving theatre efficiency and utilisation

"Surgical departments are increasingly put under pressure to improve services, cut waiting lists, increase efficiency and save money. At a district general hospital in the west-midlands we approached the challenge of improving efficiency and optimising the services available in our orthopaedic theatres."

Improving theatre efficiency and utilisation through early identification of trauma patients and enhanced communication between teams
S Roberts, A Saithna, R Bethune

BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u206641.w2670

Read more here.

Improving phlebotomy handover to doctors

"Implementation of a hospital-standardised phlebotomy handover folder dramatically improved the communication and handover between phlebotomists and doctors allowing for medical teams to take prompt action on unbled patients. This intervention will help improve patient safety, reduce delays in management/discharge and reduce the number of jobs handed over to evening on-call teams."

Improving phlebotomy handover to doctors: a quality improvement project
G Shouls, Z Jarrar, J Wickenden
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2014;3: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u204813.w2033

Read more here.

Relational coordination amongst health professionals involved in insulin initiation for people with type 2 diabetes in general practice

"Given the need for coordination between specialist and generalist care for the task of insulin initiation, this study's results suggest the need to build relationships and communication between specialist and generalist health professional groups and the potential for DNE?s to play a boundary spanner role in this process."

Relational coordination amongst health professionals involved in insulin initiation for people with type 2 diabetes in general practice: an exploratory survey
J Manski-Nankervis, I Blackberry, D Young, D O’Neal, E Patterson, J Furler
BMC Health Services Research 2014, 14:515  doi:10.1186/s12913-014-0515-3

Read more here.

Improving handover of patient care using a new weekend proforma with a focus on ceiling of care

"Results demonstrate that introducing Friday ward round proformas for medical patients improves communication between weekday and on-call teams, highlights current escalation of care plans, and leads to faster decision-making."

Improving handover of patient care using a new weekend proforma with a focus on ceiling of care
C Yusuf Akhunbay-Fudge, I Buss, A Ward, C Snead, M Cole, A Coulter
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2014;3

Read more here.