Question

Sue is the unit manager for the maternity unit at Valley Hospital. She is ultimately responsible for the goals, outcomes, and success of the unit. She is also responsible for all unit nurses and health unit coordinators. Valley Hospital is beginning an all-hospital quality initiative that is focused on increasing patient satisfaction rates, reducing infection rates, and decreasing staff payroll costs. Sue does not really have any data on patient satisfaction, but she does have the monthly infection rates for her unit. She is worried about working on these new initiatives while, at the same time, reducing staff hours.

      Where do you think Sue should start? What are some of the things she should consider to succeed with this project? What type of data and statistics will she need to get started and what statistics should she collect along the way?

Answer 1

Sue should start from unit wise. She should analyze each unit about its function, routines, advantages, and drawbacks. She should concentrate on the number of new admissions, readmissions, length of stay, no. of staff working, the daily work schedule of staff, turnover rate, shortages to succeed in this project.

She should create a table about the things to be carried out or need changes in each unit. She can use HCAHPS surveys to assess the patient satisfaction rate at different points of care. Create a pamphlet with detailed information of the maternal unit for the easy and better understanding of the patient. Assess Hospital infection control practices and develop a standardized policy. She should collect the data of infection rate for every 3 to 6 months. Maintain a document of Hospital-acquired infections and nosocomial infection. Create a benchmark to reduce infection rates and works towards it. Data of staff on each unit, sharing of work between different work areas, Saving time of staff should be collected. Appoint part-time workers to reduce payroll costs.