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In This Issue:
Oncology Discharge Project Continues to Make Strides
The Oncology Discharge Process Project, one of the four 2003 Service Excellence projects at BWH, continues to focus on creating improved processes that allow BWH to release patients earlier in the day, while cultivating an environment of support and caring.
The team, comprised of individuals from Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center, the BWPO, and the hospital’s strategic partners, continues to advance several projects, including a new discharge nurse role and a team-based model for Care Coordination.
For the new discharge nurse role, currently being piloted on Tower 5A, a nurse is assigned to facilitate discharge, completing discharge paperwork, reviewing discharge instructions with patients, working with nurse care coordinators to ensure all tests required for final discharge are scheduled and completed, and making sure that patients have arranged transportation to their respective homes.
“Eileen Kelly, RN has been working in this pilot role and has had a dynamic effect on the quality of patient discharges,” said Eileen Molina, RN, nurse manager, Tower 5A. “Eileen has embraced the challenge and has produced outstanding results for the discharge team and their efforts to improve patient care.”
Care Coordination has also initiated a new pilot program using a team-based model under which care coordinators are assigned to patient care teams rather than individual pods. “The goal of the new design is improved efficiency of communication and care planning among house staff teams, attending physicians and nurse care coordinators,” said Joanne Hogan, RN, MS, director, BWH Care Coordination.
The Oncology Discharge team continues to make strides in the multidisciplinary rounding process, looking for ways to maximize participation by all caregivers. In addition, early morning phlebotomy continues to be a success, with lab results available for 7:30 a.m. rounds.
Over the next few months, the team will develop and test strategies for identifying patients, who could potentially be discharged one day prior to their original intended discharge date. Look for additional updates on the Oncology Discharge and other Service Excellence projects in future issues of BWH Bulletin.