As you know, we routinely take care of the most medically complex and surgically ill patients – those with the highest case-mix index – while we deal with issues of capacity and resource needs. As technology has advanced and become more widespread, community and regional hospitals now care for patients historically sent to us. This creates a higher level of acuity and complexity in our tertiary care system. In fact, the number of extremely complicated patients in our hospital, at any given time, is at an all-time high and getting higher. Inpatient and outpatient volumes have also increased in the last two years.
A seamless transition is needed for these complex patients during transfers. Using Be Safe methods and the structure of the unit based leaders (UBL), a team which included Larry Gimple, Jamie Kennedy, Mark Adams and Joseph Schoeny, created standard work on information transfer for incoming CCU patients.
As a result of their work, when an outside physician requests a transfer, a cascade begins. A checklist is used to ensure that CCU fellows and attendings have accurate information in “real time” while a “Heart” HIS analyst (24/7) reviews and confirms that the relevant images have been uploaded successfully. Our in-house Patient Placement Center organizes a conference call for our clinicians, the referring providers, and any other needed groups. The acceptance and details of the transfer are posted on an CCU BeSafe Board using a standard tool. The CCU team is then able to know that they have everything they need to be able to plan for the next level of care. These transfers are logged, audited and reviewed by Mark Adams and the rest of the Be Safe team.
Mike D. Williams’ new position as the Associate Chief Medical Officer for Clinical Integration ties into transfers as well. Mike and his team facilitate both the intra-facility and inter-facility communication and oversees the Patient Placement Center, which incorporates the new in-house Bed Center and Transfer Center. Having Mike in this role means that we have a clinician with deep understanding of our processes and our system and someone who can understand the needs of the patient as well as what resources are available. This patient can be received in the “right” bed with the “right” providers by their side in the most efficient manner.
This work is happening now. It’s an exciting time to be here.
-cg
Filed Under: BeSafe, Integration
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