Better Teams. Better Systems. Better Care.

February/2008

SHARPENING THE SAW: A Message from Steve Harden, President LifeWings Partners, LLC
 

THE BIRTH OF THE CHECKLIST 

One of the key components of the LifeWings Patient Safety System is the creation and implementation of Hardwired Safety Tools. To create these Tools, our coaches work with an interdisciplinary group of experts from each client and build customized, site-specific tools to hardwire effective team behaviors into everyday work life.

These Tools take on many forms. They can be checklists with which to conduct pre-procedure briefings, or checklists to help staff efficiently and correctly turn around an OR for the next procedure. The Tools might be a script for nurse to nurse patient handoff or transfer, or a briefing guide to make sure nothing is forgotten during the morning shift briefing.

Given that so much of our work revolves around the creation and use of healthcare specific checklists, and that many of healthcare's peer reviewed journals have recently published articles on the benefits of the use of checklists, I thought you might enjoy a short story on the birth of the checklist in aviation. [Read More]

SKILLS AND TOOLS: Get Better Today

"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results." -- Andrew Carnegie

A leader's strength is often measured by his/her ability to facilitate effective teams.  Managing diversity among human resources and building effective teams is challenging.  High reliability organizations, such as healthcare and aviation, often call for skilled professionals to work together with little or no previous knowledge or history of each other. This need, to create effective teams quickly, is being practiced daily/hourly in aircrafts and cockpits around the world. The following lessons apply to all high reliability organizations. They are proven and practical and, when followed, help build effective teams quickly. [Read More]

LEADERSHIP TOOLKIT: Skills for Sustaining an Enduring Cultural Change

The 4 P's: Structuring Your Organization

to Support an Effective Team Framework

Philosophy, policies, procedures, and practices are the underlying framework supporting the structure of high reliability organizations.  Understanding the interrelatedness of each one of these factors is essential in establishing an organization that permanently supports and enables effective teamwork among caregivers. Structuring your organization to support effective teamwork includes the following integral parts: [Read More]

SUCCESS STORIES:

Reported Results from Organizations Implementing LifeWings Safety and Quality Programs

Vassar Brothers Medical Center

Achieves Quality and Patient Safety Recognition 

Vassar Brothers Medical Center received honorable mention recognition for their implementation of Crew Resource Management in Surgical Services. The Pinnacle Award for quality and Patient Safety, sponsored by The Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), recognizes member hospitals and health care systems that significantly improve the health and safety of their patients.

Real Results:  Making a committment to bring Crew Resource Management to their facility in 2005, Vassar Brothers was motivated by their goal of ensuring 100% compliance with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations / Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services cardiac core measures and related care components within a year. Six of the seven acute myocardial infraction measures were at 100% by year-end, with one criterion just short of the goal.

Read the following excerpt from Vassar Brothers' Application:

"Through this process we learned that culture change is possible. Change is a process not an event and must occur with time. Key to any culture change is support from the staff. This has to start from the top down to include not only departmental leadership, administration and the Board of Trustees, but also physician champions. The importance of the project was made evident by the support from the Board of Trustees in allowing the OR to be closed for 48 hours as well as the CEO and President providing his backing and support. Physicians and staff received the message that this was an organization priority."

Congratulations!

Interested in gaining recognition for your

organizations' patient safety efforts?

Check out these upcoming opportunities:

John M. Eisenberg Award for Patient Safety and Quality: The Eisenberg Award recognizes major achievements of individuals and organizations in improving patient safety and quality.  The annual Awards include an individual lifetime achievement award and awards in the categories of system innovation (local and national) or research.

2008 Ernest Amory Codman Award: The Codman Award is the first health care award that recognizes excellence in performance measurement. This prestigious award recognizes achievement by organizations and individuals in the use of process and outcomes measures to improve organization performance and quality of care. Award recipients receive a specially designed Steuben crystal vase, national recognition and the opportunity to share their achievements at the Joint Commission's Annual Conference in Chicago in Spring 2009.

STREAMS IN THE DESERT: Thoughts and Stories to Inspire

Lessons from the Top of the World   

In May, 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary, along with his Shirpa guide, Tenzing Norkay, were the first team to reach the peak of Mt. Everest. Ironically, upon their descent, Hillary was met with distance from the people of Nepal. After all, here was this outsider who had breached their sacred ground.

Sir Edmund, in his uncomplicated wisdom, made certain to give credit to Norkay for reaching the top first, just a few steps ahead of himself. The only photograph taken that day at the top of the peak, was in fact, of Norkay. Hillary later stated, "Believe me, to us, to mountaineers, who's first is not important. We're a team."

Thirty-three years after this triumphant team of two crested Mt. Everest, just prior to Tenzing's death, he wrote that it was actually Hillary who had first reached the top of Mt. Everest, a fact Hillary later confirmed. And so it is, that from the top of the world, this humble team of two has inspired us with lessons of valuing the team above the win.

About Us

LifeWings Partners LLC was founded by a former U.S. Navy Top Gun instructor and commercial airline pilot. The firm specializes in applying CRM based teamwork training and safety tools to help healthcare facilities save patients' lives and reduce costs. LifeWings has helped over 75 facilities nationwide provide beter quality care to their patients.

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