ED

Overview: The purpose of an ED Collaborative is to enhance patient safety, reduce the occurrence of preventable errors, and minimize litigation exposure. This starts out with obtaining baseline data in key areas and performing risk assessments in each hospital to determine current practice from a patient safety and risk management focus. The Collaborative brings together teams from each hospital which include both nursing and physician leaders. The Collaborative functions are as follows:

• a. A questionnaire is completed by all hospitals in the first 2 months to obtain baseline data in key areas. This data is analyzed and serves as the initial information to drive the collaborative initiatives.
• b. Risk management/quality indicators are tracked for each hospital to flag potential problems resulting from a breakdown in service
  1. Note – these are tracked at the beginning of the project and every six months for 24 months.
  2. This data collection will also allow the hospitals to blindly compare their results in key areas to evaluate performance over time.
• c. Two day assessments are done for each hospital in the Collaborative to establish baseline risks and individual location practices.
• d. The Collaborative includes periodic educational teleconferences or webinars.
• e. There is one on-site educational seminar with the hospital teams.
• f. There are decisions made as to what safety items to pursue and what issues should be addressed and how to measure compliance and change.
• g. The collection and measurement of data generated from the above is critical for the success of the Collaborative if change is to be measured and implemented.
• h. Why select a collaborative approach?
• i. The problem with stopping after completing risk assessments is that it is difficult, at times, for the individual hospital to change from within without resources, nurse and physician champions, and support for audits and data distribution.

OB

Overview: The purpose of an OB Collaborative is to ensure safer deliveries, reduce the occurrence of preventable errors, and minimize litigation exposure. This starts out with obtaining baseline data in key areas and performing risk assessments in each hospital to determine current practice in patient safety and risk management areas. The collaborative brings together teams from each hospital in the system which include both nursing and physician leaders. The faculty is made up of physician and nursing leaders and administrative support for the faculty. The collaborative functions that are recommended are as follows:

• a. A questionnaire is completed by all hospitals in the first 2 months to obtain baseline data in 25 key areas. This data is analyzed and serves as the initial information to drive the collaborative initiatives.
• b. Risk management/quality indicators are tracked for each hospital to flag potential problems resulting from a breakdown in service.
• c. Analytical services are provided. We have expertise in the management and analysis of perinatal data sets and the development of custom reports. Reports are used to understand the volume, utilization, quality and patient safety of individual hospitals and the multiple hospital systems.
• d. Two day assessments are done for each hospital in the Collaborative to establish baselines risks and individual location practices.
• e. Each location assigns a leadership team to facilitate the patient safety/risk management process.
• f. The Collaborative has periodic educational (bimonthly) teleconferences or webinars.
• g. There is one on-site educational seminar per year with the hospital teams.
• h. There are decisions made as to what safety items to pursue and what issues should be addressed and how to measure compliance and change.
• i. The quantitative measurement of data generated from the above is critical for the success of the collaborative if change is to be measured and implemented.
• j. Why select a collaborative approach?
  • 1. The problem with stopping after completing risk assessments is that it is difficult, at times, for the individual hospital to change from within without resources, nurse and physician champions, and support for audits and data distribution.