Quality for the Rest of Us

Patient Decision-Making is supposed to be the goal, but just defining it can cause a heated argument. What prevents it from happening, and how can we overcome those barriers? This episode uncovers a missing piece in patient decision-making, and offers recommendations for a solid patient-centered framework. Key Points: -Speak Up campaigns -Obscure language -Precision Risk References: -The Joint Com...

This Patient Safety Week, I had the honor of sitting down with healthcare tech and e-iatrogenesis expert Benjamin Cooperman to discuss my toughest questions about digital harm, healthcare cybersecurity, and high reliability organizing (HRO) in the healthcare tech space. He has an extensive background in information technology and HRO consulting in the healthcare industry. This feature-length episo...

The topic of Artificial Intelligence and healthcare tech often prompts polarized responses across the industry. Will AI replace doctors? Will technology alleviate burnout, or worsen it? What do we need most in the development of healthcare innovation? Today's episode shares some cautionary tales as well as tips for success. Key Points: -Decision support -AI Gatekeepers -Smart Development Refe...

Nearly 10 years ago, the goal of mandatory electronic documentation was to improve patient engagement, care coordination, research, disparity, and healthcare quality. As we look toward the next wave of requirements for interoperability, this episode reviews our progress toward these goals and shares recommendations for the future. Key Points: -Is digital better? -Vulnerable data -Patient ownership...

Why do some patients prefer to spend $100 on imported frankincense oil than spend the same amount on a clinic visit? What can alternative medicine tell us about measuring patient satisfaction? Today's episode discusses these novel trends. Key Points: -Why essential oils? -Limits of patient satisfaction metrics -The patient's voice References: -“Vapor rub relieves cold symptoms for childr...

Why do healthcare professionals shy away from working in scenic rural areas, even when they are offered the comfort of broadband internet and affordable housing? Today's episode addresses the two reasons why doctors and nurses avoid rural health and how innovators around the world are solving those problems.  Key Points:  -The new Netropolis  -Rwanda's blood bank program  -Specialty café...

What is the greatest risk to your organization and how can you tell? What does a "good" solution look like? Today's episode shares how to use a risk assessment to identify hot spots in your organization and innovate for the best solutions. Key Points: -Relative risk? -Scoring Risks -Discussing solutions References: -Fox, Andrea (May 31, 2023). Florida bans offshore health record sto...

Are there trails blazed outside the system’s parameters that frustrate planners? This episode discusses “desire paths” in sidewalk design as an example for surgical staffing, and looks at how AI could help us get a better understanding of employee behavior and trends. What will we find if we stop to listen to the footfalls of our healthcare community? Key Points: -What are "desire paths"...

Have you noticed that physicians are doing a lot more clerical work these days, staying late to answer email and sit on the phone? Does your organization require a graduate degree for simple data entry jobs? Today's episode talks about Eduflation, the cost of down-skilling our experts, and ways to measure and prove our value to an organization. Key Points: -What is Eduflation? -Dependable yet...

Why are roles so vague today? What does quiet quitting say about our processes? What organizational improvement could remedy the cause of quiet quitting? Today's episode dives into the world of job descriptions, organizational goals and quiet quitting from a process perspective with solutions based on solid improvement principles. Key Points: -Job description evolution -SMART vision -The pati...

This Healthcare Quality Week, I had the honor of sitting down with esteemed High Reliability Organizing (HRO) expert Craig Clapper to discuss my toughest questions about patient safety and quality improvement. He has a background in nuclear engineering and an emphasis in good humor, resulting in a conversation that was both compassionate and thought-provoking. This feature-length episode covers th...

By 2034, the Baby Boomers will leave the workplace: We will have more demand for healthcare than the supply of workers. What can we do to manage this demographic cliff? Today's episode provides practical examples and workforce solutions for organizations of any size.  Key Points:  -Clinicians as alarms  -Demographic Brain Drain  -Shared Results and Opportunities    References:  -Riley, Robin....

Communication in healthcare can be a real challenge. Today's episode explores patient needs, the speaker-audience relationship, jargon, and misinformation in healthcare. Key Points: -Health education is tricky -Jargon is not patient-centered -Nuance and clarity References: -Leonard SA, Main EK, Scott KA, Profit J, Carmichael SL (2019). Racial and ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidit...