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.

Evaluation of the physician quality improvement initiative

The PQII provides an opportunity for physician development, affirmation and reflection, but also a structure to further departmental quality improvement, best practices, and finally, an opportunity to enhance communication, accountability and relationships between the organization, department chiefs and their staff.

Evaluation of the physician quality improvement initiative: the expected and unexpected opportunities
K Wentlandt, A Bracaglia, J Drummond, L Handren, J McCann, C Clarke, N Degendorfer, CK Chan
BMC Medical Education 201515:230

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An algorithm for predicting doctors’ risks of formal patient complaints

"The PRONE score appears to be a valid method for assessing individual doctors’ risks of attracting recurrent complaints. Regulators could harness such information to target quality improvement interventions, and prevent substandard care and patient dissatisfaction."

The PRONE score: an algorithm for predicting doctors’ risks of formal patient complaints using routinely collected administrative data
MJ Spittal, MM Bismark, DM Studdert
BMJ Quality and Safety 2015;24:360-368 doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003834

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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

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Protecting resources, promoting value: a doctor’s guide to cutting waste in clinical care

"This report provides a framework for a way in which doctors can think critically about waste from a clinical perspective and provides examples of doctors improving the value of health care by reducing waste."

Protecting resources, promoting value: a doctor’s guide to cutting waste in clinical care
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
November 2014

Read more here.

Better care for older people (GMC)

The General Medical Council have created some new webpages and resources to help doctors improve their care of older patients.

Access the new webpages and resources here.

Medical revalidation: From compliance to commitment

"Medical revalidation, with the right conditions, can be a valuable driver of behaviours and cultures that support sustained quality improvement. The time to develop those conditions is now. Above all, leaders should bear in mind that large-scale change requires them to have the tenacity and vision to create a process that is valued by all who are involved in it." 

Medical revalidation: From compliance to commitment
V Nath, B Seale, M Kaur
The Kings's Fund
March 2014

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Revalidation: the early experiences and views of responsible officers from London

"The King’s Fund was commissioned by what is now the NHS England (London region) Revalidation Team to carry out a small research study to capture the experiences and reflections of Responsible Officers in London."

Revalidation: the early experiences and views of responsible officers from London
The King's Fund
October 2013

Read more here.

Models of medical leadership and their effectiveness

"There are many barriers to involving doctors effectively in leadership roles, and in most organisations a step change is needed to overcome these barriers."

Are we there yet? Models of medical leadership and their effectiveness: An exploratory study
H Dickinson, C Ham, I Snelling, P Spurgeon
NHS National Institute for Health Research
April 2013

Read more here.

Improved NHS services through new perspectives

"This toolkit offers a way of improving productive working between doctors and managers in your Trust."

Improved NHS services through new perspectives
Centre for Innovation in Health Management
University of Leeds
July 2012

Access the toolkit here. (Free registration is required)