The vision
A large urban safety net teaching hospital aimed to improve its “D” Leapfrog rating with a resource-conscious strategy. Leaders flagged hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) and central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) as focus areas but were unsure how to achieve the best results. Time was of the essence as clinical incidents negatively impacted outcomes. It was time to pivot and evolve.
Co-creating the solution
The hospital partnered with Chartis to assess front-line performance and provide real-time clinical training at the bedside to ensure compliance with best-practice protocols. To enhance accountability and further reduce harm, the hospital leveraged unit-based teams with clear roles and responsibilities for quality/patient safety, nursing, and clinical departments. Implementing real-time dashboards enabled effective performance monitoring, while audit tools supported care facilitation processes that the hospital could oversee independently.
Believe in better
By identifying drivers of low ratings and implementing risk-reduction strategies, the hospital has advanced toward high-reliability care. Quality and operational alignment, communication, and data-driven interventions led to a considerable decrease in harm. The hospital is well-positioned to leverage its new team structures to tackle additional challenges (e.g., length of stay) and continue its efforts toward becoming a highly rated institution.
