Knowledge on the Go

Patient immobility can lead to serious complications such as muscle loss, blood clots, depression and loss of independence. However, without proper training and support, many healthcare workers feel it is unsafe to mobilize patients. Host Laura Hoffman is joined by Nancy McGahn, enterprise safety mobility manager at Intermountain Health, to discuss "Mobility is Medicine." They explore how the Safe Mobility Program integrates fall prevention, safe patient handling, and mobility strategies to improve outcomes.    Guest speaker: Nancy McGann PT, CSPHP, CPPS Enterprise Manager of Safe Mobility Fall Prevention, Safe Patient Handling & Mobility Intermountain Health Host: Laura Hoffman DNP, MSN, RN, CPHQ Senior Program Director Performance Improvement Programs Vizient   Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Show notes:  [01:25] – Exploring the risks to both caregivers and patients when mobility isn't executed safely and properly.  [02:00] – The fears around mobilizing patients and highlighting the knowledge gaps that often fuel those fears. [03:11] – Not moving patients can increase their risk of falling. [04:42] – Introducing the three-part cycle of a successful mobility program. [06:26] – Building fall prevention care plan matters when working with patient goals  [08:29] – Supporting staff beyond physical and occupational therapy to feel confident in moving patients. [09:53] – The unique mobility challenges in the ICU and why early movement is critical to patient recovery.  [10:39] – The Bedside Mobility Tool empowers nurses with the right technology and confidence to mobilize patients safely. [11:18] – Reviewing key performance indicators (KPIs) and program data to measure the impact and success of the mobility initiative.   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Android RSS Feed

Hospital mergers and acquisitions can be both transformative and complex, requiring careful alignment and integration of systems. In this episode, host Thomas Sauls speaks with Ed Moore, President of UMass Memorial Harrington Hospital, and Eric Alper, Chief Quality and Clinical Informatics Officer at UMass Memorial Health, about the successful acquisition of Harrington Hospital. They share insights into the integration process, from transitioning to a unified electronic health record system to enhancing financial and quality performance while preserving organizational culture and community-focused care.   Guest speakers: Ed Moore  President, UMass Memorial – Harrington Hospital Eric Alper MD Chief Quality Officer and Chief Clinical Informatics Officer UMass Memorial Health   Host: Thomas Sauls Fellow, Performance Improvement Programs Vizient   Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Show notes:  [0:51] Driving forces behind the merger of Harrington Hospital and UMass Memorial  [3:05] Aligning the mission and vision as a key reason for the merger  [04:51] Preserving the local leadership and culture during the acquisition  [7:05] Key operational challenges and strategies used to align hospital systems post-merger [09:10] How patient care improves with data and metrics [10:55] Best practices for ensuring a smooth transition and integration between the two systems [13:13] Improvements to the systems six to twelve months after the merger [15:32] Balancing autonomy with integration—how hospitals can maintain local identity and control [16:50] Examples of how systemness can benefit patients and staff [18:12] Giving up independence and benefits of integrating  [19:10] Being entity focused and centralized to deliver across the entire system    Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Android RSS Feed

Workplace violence in ambulatory care settings presents unique challenges due to open access, isolated locations and limited security resources. Jennifer Rodgers, Chief Nursing Officer at UC Health, speaks to our host, Maha Siddiqui, about effective strategies for preventing and managing risks. Jennifer shares her experience developing key interventions, including AI-driven communication tools and her role supporting both staff and patients.    Guest speaker: Jennifer Rodgers, DNP, ACNP-BC, FAANP Chief Nursing Officer  Assistant Professor, Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine University of Colorado Hospital  UC Health    Host: Maha Siddiqui Fellow, Performance Improvement Programs Vizient   Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Jennifer Rodgers: Jennifer.Rodgers@uchealth.org   Show notes:  [0:55] Ambulatory care includes in-person, electronic, and phone interactions, each with unique workplace violence challenges [2:49] Advocating for patients and staff helps improve safety and understanding [3:30] Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) model created for rapid response strategies to manage crises  [5:37] Scripting and decision tools help the staff handle patient aggression  [7:05] AI filters supports de-escalation and strengthens staff boundaries [8:58] Analyzing frontline cases helps identify causes and improve patient support [10:16] A workplace safety toolkit provides triage protocols and de-escalation strategies   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Android RSS Feed

In this episode Dr. Lauren Williams, Patient Safety Manager at AHN Wexford Hospital, shares valuable insights from her hospital's efforts to improve sepsis care. Speaking with host Shannon Hale, Lauren highlights the critical need for enhanced compliance with SEP-1 sepsis care bundles, tackling challenges like high readmission rates and resource constraints. She discusses innovative strategies, such as providing real-time feedback to emergency departments and inpatient teams to drive improvement.    Guest speaker: Lauren Williams, DNP, MA, RN, NE-BC Patient Safety Manager AHN Wexford Hospital   Host: Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ Senior program Director, PI Programs Vizient   Show Notes: [1:12] Dr. Lauren Williams discusses entering Vizient's Performance Improvement Collaborative to understand how other healthcare systems are addressing sepsis challenges [1:59] Goals for joining the collaborative and information shared across the board [3:13] The importance of using data to improve outcomes for sepsis patients and how it leads to meaningful process changes [4:35] Dr. Williams explains how her hospital was able to overcome significant barriers and navigate challenges despite working with limited resources [5:13] Celebrating some of the greatest successes, including improved compliance, reduced readmission rates and lower mortality rates   Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Dr. Lauren Williams' email: Lauren.Williams2@ahn.org    Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Android RSS Feed

More than 200 medical journals identified climate change as the greatest global threat.  In this podcast, UW Medicine describes how focusing on environmental sustainability improved their vendor selections, supply chain flow, patient care and saved them hundreds of thousands of dollars.   Guest speakers:  Tara T. Biss, MBA, CSFA Value Analysis Portfolio Manager, Strategic Sourcing UW Medicine Supply Chain bisst@uw.edu   Gabriella Henkels Sustainability and Waste Manager, Essential Services  Harborview Medical Center   Louise Simpson, MHA Associate Vice President, Clinical Integration Office of the President, UW Medicine Hospitals & Clinics ljws@uw.edu    Host:  LaTammy Marks, MBA, BSN, RN Senior PI Program Director Performance Improvement Programs Vizient   Show Notes: [1:34] UW Medicine's green team and their purpose [3:45] Determining environmental sustainability opportunities [6:00] What teams to include and how to get leadership buy-in [7:45] Establishing goals [8:30] Environmental sustainability success stories [12:50] Lessons learned   Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com To learn more about Vizient's Environmental Sustainability program contact: ES@vizientinc.com Another podcast on this same topic: Go Green: Why your healthcare system should be engaged in environmental sustainability: https://knowledgeonthego.podbean.com/?s=go%20green   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Android RSS Feed

Hospitals are in the business of improving care and want to keep patients safe and have a satisfied workforce. More creative staffing models are emerging, and hospitals are focusing on more advanced training of non-licensed nursing personnel (unlicensed associates) to perform tasks previously relegated to nurses. Nurses have the capability and responsibility to delegate. With effective teamwork, patient outcomes can improve as nurses are freed to work at the highest level of their education and experience.   Guest speaker: Michelle Davis, MSN, BPS, RN, CMSRN Assistant Vice President, Medical Services Unity Health Moderator: Amber Hanser, MHA, CPHQ Senior Program Director Performance Improvement Programs Vizient   Show Notes: [01:21] Nursing Operations at Unity Health [02:00] Comprehensive delegation training: components and oversight [03:50] Putting the training program together [05:41] Tools and sessions [08:07] Advice to other organizations about nurse delegation   Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Amber's email: amber.hanser@vizientinc.com Michelle's email: michelle.davis@unity-health.org   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Android RSS Feed

Chronic illnesses present a significant challenge to our healthcare system, straining resources and impacting patient quality of life. One innovative approach to tackling this issue is the community health worker model, a strategy that empowers individuals to take control of their health and navigate complex healthcare systems more effectively. Today, we are exploring the creation of the model and how to create sustainability. Vanessa Saylor, systems director of health equity at Main Line Health in Philadelphia joins us to discuss her work on building the community health worker model.   Guests: Vanessa Saylor, Ed.D, MSW, LSW, CCM System Director, Health Equity Main Line Health   Host: Margaret Rudisill, RN, BSN, MS-HQS Senior PI Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:21 – 02:24]  The moment Vanessa realized that a community health worker model could make a significant difference in managing chronic illnesses [02:25 – 03:58]  Gaining buy-in from stakeholders [03:59 – 05:23]  Initial challenges you faced when trying to implement the community health worker model and overcoming them [05:24 – 07:17]  Most effective strategies fostering trust between the community health worker and the patients [07:18 – 08:32]  Data collected and analyzed to demonstrate the worth and sustainability of the program [08:33 – 09:47]  Advice for other organizations looking to build a successful community health worker model   For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Android RSS Feed

The pharmacy revenue cycle is a multi-phase continuous process, which requires ongoing collaboration across many disciplines. The process starts at pre-registration and continues through payment reconciliation. Steven Loborec, associate director of Pharmacy at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center joins host Jim Lichauer to discuss the details of his program.   Guest: Steven Loborec, PharmD Associate Director of Pharmacy The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Moderator: Jim Lichauer, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP Senior PI Program Director, Pharmacy Vizient   Show Notes: [00:45 – 02:34] Overview of pharmacy revenue cycle process and areas where tOSU Wexler Medical Center is engaged [02:35 – 04:10] Addressing the Charge Master [04:11 – 09:14] Finding new and additional revenue streams [09:15 – 13:31] Identifying medications or sites of care opportunities that generate greatest margins [13:32 – 14:14] Lessons learned   Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Android RSS Feed  

Healthcare organizations across the nation strive to become highly reliable organizations.  Vizient defines an high reliability organization as an organization that has experienced significant success in avoiding harm within an environment of high complexity and risk.  This podcast discusses strategies and emerging practices identified in Vizient's high reliability culture of safety collaborative.  Joining in the discussion to share their insights on how to improve your health organization's culture of safety is collaborative participant, Caryn Douma, Corporate Director of Patient Safety Strategy from the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Michael Leonard, Senior Principal at Vizient and an High Reliability expert.      Speakers:  Caryn Douma, MS, RN, CPPS Corporate Director of Patient Safety Strategy University of Pennsylvania Health System   Michael Leonard, MD Senior Principal Vizient Host:  Marilyn Sherrill, RN, MBA Senior Program Director, Performance Improvement Programs Vizient   Show notes: [2:08] Essential elements for High Reliability [5:00] Senior leader engagement and feedback [7:00] How to close the loop with frontline staff at a large, comprehensive, academic medical center [8:30] Making leadership rounds meaningful and positive [11:40] Personal accountability and teamwork helps with the patient care tasks reliably getting done [13:36] How to set your staff up for success rather than punishing them for results that didn't come out as intended [[14:25] Creating a culture where staff feel comfortable speaking out [17:45] Psychological safety   Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Android RSS Feed

Imagine the Stress of returning to school, following a psychiatric hospitalization for the pediatric patient, their family and caregivers. Dr. Sarah Edwards, director for the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Courtney Vaughn, school transition Specialist at the University of Maryland join join host Laura Hoffman, Sr. Performance Improvement Program Director, to explain how their school transitions program helps these patients and families adjust to that transition.   Guests: Sarah Edwards, DO Director for the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University of Maryland Courtney Vaughan, MSW, LCSW-C  School Transition Specialist  University of Maryland   Moderator: Laura Hoffman, DNP, MSN, RN, CPHQ  PI Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [00:52 – 02:54]  Overview of the school transitions program [02:55 – 03:55]  What is a family connector and how they provide emotional support [03:56 – 05:30]  Program elements that help youth to stay on track [05:31 – 07:57]  Impressive outcomes of this program [07:58 – 09:16]  What this program has meant to them from a personal or a professional standpoint   Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android RSS Feed  

Artificial Intelligence has been helping improve healthcare for years, but just recently, there has been a seismic shift in capability, buy-in and attention. Healthcare systems across the country are looking into safely and effectively using AI to improve observed mortality. On this episode, we examine how Intermountain Health is effectively using AI for their patients.   Guest speaker: Sathya Vijayakumar, MS, MBA Senior Manager, Clinical Operations Intermountain Health   Moderator: Shannon Sullivan, MHA Fellow Performance Improvement Vizient   Show Notes: [01:22] Opportunity to benchmark observed mortality [02:11] Using AI to track observed mortality [06:16] Details on the process used at Intermountain Health [08:37] How Intermountain piloted and fostered adoption of the initiative – outcomes [12:09] Barriers to implementation [13:43] Will never replace clinical judgment [14:43] Recommendations and takeaways [07:02] Next steps   Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Shannon's email: shannon.sullivan@vizientinc.com Sathya's email: Sathya.Vijayakumar@imail.org   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android RSS Feed

Hospital-acquired infections affect every health organization. These infections may be caused by a variety of pathogens including bacterial, viruses, fungi and parasites. They can lead to increased mobidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Joining us to discuss their efforts to reduce hospital-acquired infections at SSM Health are Dr. Shephali Wulff, System Vice President of Quality and Safety and Chief Quality Officer and Chris Zirges, System Director of Infection Prevention.   Guest speakers: Shephali Wulff, DO System Vice President of Quality and Safety, Chief Quality Officer SSM Health Chris Zirges, DNP, APRN-BC, CIC, FAPIC System Director of Infection Prevention SSM Health  Host: Courtney Furrow-White, MPM, RN Senior PI Program Director Vizient    Show Notes: [:56] SSM Health infection prevention overview [1:35] Current infection disease collaboration between four teams: infection disease physicians, infection prevention, microbiology and infection disease pharmacists [2:43] Partnering with continuous improvement team to put hospital-acquired infection guidelines into a change package [3:05] Over a span of two years, efforts led to 60% infection reduction for three targeted infections [3:20] Challenges with standardizing the work [4:15] Standardizing process structure and change framework [7:00] Process checks to support freezing and/or unfreezing behavior for validity and sustainability [10:00] Training modules and tools [11:45] Focus strategy for monitoring and reducing other hospital-acquired infections   [14:40] Different processes are needed for patients that are entering care in different ways: i.e., elective vs emergent surgery vs. in-patient surgery [15:20] Lessons learned   Links | Resources: For more information: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android RSS Feed  

Sepsis has long been a challenge for healthcare organizations. It is a leading cause of morbidity, readmissions and mortality. As a reaction to an infection, sepsis can spread quickly, progress to septic shock and eventually shut down organ systems. Catching it early is a priority and the basis for much of a hospital's approach to the disease. This episode features a healthcare expert who shares her organization's approach to sepsis, as part of a Vizient collaborative, that has resulted in significant reduction in the disease.   Guest speaker: Leanne Bonds, MSN, RN, CPHQ Director of Quality and Patient Safety UF Health Shands Hospital   Moderator: Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ Performance Improvement Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:14] Rationale for participating in the collaborative [01:53] Goal of participation [02:23] Increasing compliance with the sepsis order set [03:11] Use of sepsis sidebar [04:06] Barriers to implementation [04:46] Outcomes from collaborative [05:45] A takeaway from the collaborative [07:02] Next steps   Links| Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Shannon's email: shannon.hale@vizientinc.com Leanne's email: lbon0001@shands.ufl.edu CDC sepsis website: https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis/what-is-sepsis.html   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android RSS Feed

Navigating patient-initiated portal communication to create better experiences for patients is a national priority for healthcare systems.  The goal of the patient-initiated portal communication project collaboration between Vizient and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is to understand the different ways that health systems are responding to patient-initiated portal communication, and the usage of e-visits, and its impact on the Quintuple AIM, equity, quality, patient experience, care team experience and cost. By learning the pros and cons of communication through the electronic patient portals, health systems can create better messaging and clarity for patients. Danielle Carder, Senior Program Specialist from AAMC, joins host Courtney Furrow-White to share their collaborations on patient-initiated portal communication.  Each share statistics, challenges and results from their findings and how organizations and patients are impacted.   Guest speakers: Danielle Carder MSc Senior Program Specialist, Access & Clinical Innovations Association of American Medical Colleges   Host: Courtney Furrow-White, MPM, RN Senior PI Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [1:38] Partnership between Vizient and AAMC to understand how health systems respond to patient initiated portals [2:34] Analyzing the billing data of 78 clinical practices [3:25] Members survey compiling data from equity, ROI to provider and patient satisfaction [5:45] The challenges health care organizations face with e-visits, and managing perceptions of care [7:33] Measuring feedback and engagement around the value of patient portals [10:58] Active education and communication with patients on best ways to access care [12:51] The operational workflows implemented to ease conversations about visit type [14:34] Concerns from patients about billing and processing   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android RSS Feed

We know that social determinants of health such as housing instability, food insecurity, transportation barriers and limited access to education significantly influence individuals' health outcomes. By screening for these factors, healthcare providers can provide, or healthcare providers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of patients' lives beyond their medical conditions. This holistic approach allows for tailored interventions that address the root causes of health disparities. Heather Blonsky, Lead Data Scientist at Vizient, joins host Margaret Rudisill to talk about this topic and how we have used our Vizient vulnerability index tool, lovingly called the VVI tool, to address some of the nonclinical issues of each organization's top 2% in patient utilizers in our current collaborative, creating capacity transitioning of high-risk patients.   Guests: Heather Blonsky Lead Data Scientist Vizient Moderator: Margaret Rudisill PI Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:27 – 04:04]  Why and how the Vizient Vulnerability Index tool was created [04:05 – 06:09]  Homelessness and how it impacts health? [06:10 – 10:02]  Other factors that are common in the top 2% utilizers and utilization of Z codes [10:03 – 11:39]  How hospitals use that and Heather's advice [11:40 – 14:05]  What do hospitals do when you they identify these needs [14:06 – 15:06]  How Vizient attempts to tie those 2% needs with the VVI and how beneficial it might be   Links | Resources: For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android RSS Feed

Reducing preventable hospital readmissions is a national priority for payers, providers, and policy makers seeking to improve health care and lower costs. More important than costs, are the goals of providing quality care to patients who present with healthcare needs, helping them heal, and returning them safely to their home and loved ones.   Tod Baker, Principal, Dawn Sagliani, Consulting Director, and Christine Pilley, Consulting Director, all from Vizient join host Marilyn Sherrill, Sr. Performance Improvement Program Director, to discuss the emerging practices related to reducing readmissions.   Guests: Tod Baker Principal Vizient Dawn Sagliani Consulting Director Vizient Christine Pilley Consulting Director Vizient Moderator: Marilyn Sherill Sr. PI Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:14 – 02:48]  How hospitals are managing the financial challenges, and taking risks for readmissions [02:49 – 03:11]  What hospitals are doing to reduce readmissions through better processes [03:12 – 05:41]  Why are patients being readmitted to hospitals [05:42 – 09:49]  The key elements to consider during the critical time of transition that can reduce a patient's risk of readmission [09:50 – 010:40]  Role of Nurse Navigators [10:41 – 11:41]  Benefit of assessing the home environment [11:42 – 15:34]  Barriers to reducing readmissions [15:35 – 16:13]  One recommendation for hospitals to bring about a more robust readmission program   Links | Resources: For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android RSS Feed

Remote patient monitoring, commonly referred to as RPM, is a type of telehealth in which healthcare providers monitor patients outside the traditional care setting using digital medical devices. The data collected from these devices are then electronically transferred to providers for care management. Automated feedback and workflows can be built into data collection, and out-of-range values or concerning readings can be flagged and then addressed by patient's care team. In this episode two leading experts discuss building relationships to help drive referrals for an RPM program.   Guest speakers: Stephen Kropp, MS Director of Telehealth The University of Kansas Health System Jacob Finke, BSN, RN Remote Patient Monitoring Nurse Supervisor The University of Kansas Health System Moderator: Courtney Furrow-White, MPM, RN Senior Performance Improvement Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:16] RPM program at The University of Kansas Health System [02:20] Early focus areas and peripheral devices used [03:22] Well-suited for patients with chronic conditions [03:50] Barriers faced [06:15] Increasing referrals [07:53] Marketing strategy [11:00] Drawing patients into the RPM program [14:54] Finding staff with people skills [15:29] Building patient trust [18:04] Advice to those just starting out   Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Courtney's email: Courtney.furrowwhite@vizientinc.com Steve's email: skropp@kumc.edu Jacob's email: jfinke@kumc.edu   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android RSS Feed

Restraints can have a negative emotional impact on pediatric patients. Being physically restrained can be traumatic and lead to feelings of helplessness, anxiety and loss of control. Having to put pediatric patients in restraints takes a toll on staff as well. Tanya Isaacs, Behavioral Health Clinical Instructor and Cheryl Miller, Behavioral Health Registered Nurse from The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii join us to talk to us today about their journey toward zero restraint use in pediatric psychiatry are.   Guests: Tanya Isaacs, BSN, RN, PMH-BC  Behavioral Health Clinical Instructor  The Queen's Medical Center Cheryl Miller, BSN, RN-PMH-BC  Behavioral Health Registered Nurse  The Queen's Medical Center Moderator: Laura Hoffman, DNP, MSN, RN, CPHQ  PI Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:08 – 02:07]  How did Queen's Medical Center determine the right path to take to zero restraint use in your pediatric psychiatry unit [02:08 – 03:47]  Defining moment that helped to solidify this decision from Tanya and Cheryl [03:48 – 05:32]  How they began this initiative [05:33 – 07:28]  “The how to help me plan” [07:29 – 09:42]  How the “how to help me plan” changed the way that you practice as a clinician [09:43 – 11:47]  Were they able to reduce restraint use for your pediatric patients with mental health issues? [11:48 – 14:29]  Other impacts other than a decrease in restraint use   Links | Resources: Contact Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android RSS Feed  

Antimicrobial resistance continues to be a public health threat across the globe.  Recent updates to the Joint omission standards provide an opportunity to evaluate our current programs for improvements.  Today's program looks at what two health organizations are doing to optimize antimicrobial utilization, mitigate antimicrobial resistance and improve patient outcomes.  Joining Vizient's Jim Lichauer for this discussion are Michael Postelnick System Program Director of Antimicrobial and Diagnostic Stewardship at Northwestern Medicine and Lucas Schulz, Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Director and PGY1 and PGY2 for Infectious Disease at University of Wisconsin Health.    Guest speakers: Michael Postelnick, RPh BCPS AQ-Infectious Diseases System Program Director, Antimicrobial and Diagnostic Stewardship Northwestern Medicine  Lucas Schulz, PharmD, BCIDP Clinical Manager, Acute Care Services Residency Program Director – PGYI and PGY2 Infectious Diseases University of Wisconsin Health Moderator: Jim Lichauer, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP Senior PI Program Director, Pharmacy  Vizient    Show Notes: [1:10] The Joint Commission and CMS updates are driving antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) forward [3:50] EP 10 criteria to determine necessary resources to operate the stewardship program effectively and ensure that the resource allocation matches the determined needs [5:20] EP 12 is revised to specifically require competency-based training for medical staff [7:35] EP 20 recommends reporting ASP data to hospital leadership and prescribers [9:45] Joint Commissions new standards include ambulatory care [13:25] CMS rules for infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship (CMSQSO-22-20)   Links | Resources: Contact Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android RSS Feed  

Mortality is often viewed as a key indicator of the quality of care in a healthcare organization, and something that most organizations are working to improve upon. Through Vizient's work with national organizations all working to improve mortality, key lessons learned have emerged that can help organizations improve mortality within their facilities. Shannon Hale Performance Improvement Program director at Vizient joins host Nicole Spatafora, AVP, Performance Improvement, Vizient, to discuss his work on mortality improvement.   Guest: Shannon Hale Performance Improvement Program Director Vizient Moderator: Nicole Spatafora AVP, Performance Improvement  Vizient   Show Notes: [00:47 – 02:48]  Why it is so important that healthcare facilities look at mortality [02:49 – 04:24]  Getting C-Suite buy in [04:25 – 07:36]  How organizations can get their frontline engaged [07:37 – 08:58]  What happens if you don't have engagement at the C-suite level or frontline level [08:59 – 10:55]  Sustaining change [10:56 – 12:15]  PI Mortality future plans   Links | Resources: For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android RSS Feed

Transitions from hospital to post-acute care is both time consuming and complex. When discharge tasks are not coordinated and stacked on the patient's last day, any disruption can cause a cascade of negative events. In fact, 30% of all hospital admissions have a 24-hour discharge delay due to non-clinical reasons.   Bennett Masden, Director of Quality at Great River Health in West Burlington, Iowa joins host Margaret Rudisill, Performance Improvement Director at Vizient to explore how moving tasks before the day of discharge can help reduce a patient's length of stay.      Guest Speaker: Bennett Masden, BBA Director of Quality Great River Health Moderator: Margaret Rudisill, RN, BSN, MS-HQS PI Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:22] Task rebalancing to alleviate resource constraints at discharge [02:04] Use a process map to determine when tasks are happening and decide what tasks can move earlier [03:13] How to respond to pushback [04:10] A cross-functional team of stakeholders develops an action plan and encourages commitment [04:31] Example: moving exercise oximetry tests to the day before discharge [05:35] Other examples: medication reconciliation and physical therapy [07:35] Staff reaction to task rebalancing   Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go:  picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Bennet Masden's email: bmasden@greatriverhealth.org Margaret Rudisill's contact: margaret.rudisill@vizientinc.com For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android RSS Feed

Similar to residency programs physicians and other healthcare disciplines undergo, these programs give recently graduated nurses the support and learning opportunities to smooth the transition from novice to competent clinicians, while providing valuable peer and mentor support; keys that also address turnover.   Janine Lindgreen, nurse residency coordinator, and Dawn Profit, staff development specialist, both of University of Kentucky, Albert B. Chandler Hospital join Host LaTammy Marks to discuss what healthcare organizations can do to improve their new nurse graduate journey, utilizing the Vizient American Association of Colleges of Nursing, or AACN Nurse Residency Program, also NRP, and how they can increase the use of evidence-based practice while focusing on continuous performance improvement.   Guests: Janine Lindgreen Nurse Residency Coordinator University of Kentucky, Albert B. Chandler Hospital Dawn Profit Staff Development Specialist University of Kentucky, Albert B. Chandler Hospital Moderator: LaTammy Marks PI Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [02:56 – 04:39] How University of Kentucky operationalized the NRP [04:40 – 06:55]  A performance and improvement project done by the nursing residents and how a process improved as a result of this work including evidence-based practice [06:56 – 10:01]  Ways that University of Kentucky utilizes the NRP to monitor retention [10:02 – 11:44]  Describing the quarterly scorecard and why focusing on  nurse retention is important to monitor on the scorecard for your organization [11:45 – 14:23]  How participation in these PI Collaborative supports the NRP [14:24 – 16:20]  What has contributed to the overall success of their NRP [16:21 – 17:29]  Advice for organizations that are starting a NRP program to shift their focus to retention of nurses, especially new nurses   For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com

Care is moving outside the hospital at a faster and faster pace. Due to  payer mandates, shifts in sites of care to locations outside the hospital will bring an additional 18 percent expansion of patient visits to physician offices and outpatient facilities by 2032. Strategies for home infusion will play a big role in this shift as well. Currently, over 550 medications are available for home infusion. On this episode, two leading experts will detail their successful home infusion strategy at their organization.   Guests: Alicia Ranasinghe, PharmD, IgCP Medication Access Services Pharmacist Fairview Home Infusion Brett Benfield Director of Home Infusion and Compounding Fairview Infusion Consulting Services   Moderator: Jim Lichauer, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP Performance Improvement Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:35] Fairview Pharmacy Services and home infusion [03:06] IVIG Stewardship Program [04:13] Process to establish patients in home infusion [05:25] Pharmacist involvement [05:50] Getting buy-in from colleagues [06:58] Impact on patients [08:12] Looking to the future [08:39] Take-aways from the program   Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Jim's email: jim.lichauer@vizientinc.com Alicia's email: alicia.ranasinghe@fairview.org Brett's email: brett.benfield@fairview.org   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android RSS Feed

Recent studies have demonstrated that sepsis patients have a much higher readmission risk than other common conditions such as heart failure, heart attacks, and pneumonia. The National Institutes of Health states that sepsis is a substantial healthcare burden, accounting for 6.2% of total hospital costs in the United States.   Shannon Chase Weck, Performance Improvement Specialist and Sepsis Coordinator at Houston Methodist West in Texas joins Host Shannon Hale to discuss share their work to decrease sepsis readmissions.   Guests: Shannon Chase Weck Performance Improvement Specialist and Sepsis Coordinator Houston Methodist West Hospital Moderator: Shannon Hale PI Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [00:58 – 01:24] Looking at Sepsis as an organization [01:25 – 02:30] Organizations approach to sepsis readmissions [02:31 – 03:09] Grand Prix theme and outcomes [03:10 – 04:58] How they have sustained improvements [04:59 – 06:15] The barriers [06:16 – 07:23] Ah-has to share   For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com  

Change management is a term bandied about a lot in industry as a whole and in the health care industry in particular. Yet, organizations struggle in carrying it out and few seem to see lasting results from their efforts. In this episode, two industry leaders in change management share principles to make your change management initiatives succeed. Guest speaker: Dwayne Banks, CCP Senior Change Management Partner Vizient Kimberly Kisner, MBA Director, Change Management Vizient Moderator: Amber Hanser, MHA, CPHQ Senior Improvement Program Director Performance Improvement Programs Vizient Show Notes: [03:04] Defining change management [03:46] Leading change [05:35] Change fatigue [08:47] Leading practices in change management [10:22] How organizations should approach change management [13:50] Communicating in times of uncertainty [18:31] Sustaining change [20:16] Start at the beginning of the process—steps to take Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Amber's email: amber.hanser@vizientinc.com Dwayne's email: dwayne.banks@vizientinc.com Kimberly's email: kimberly.kisner@vizientinc.com Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

Many issues facing our healthcare systems, such as rising costs, staffing shortages, supply chain disruptions, why should sustainability be top of mind for healthcare organizations and what they how can they improve their sustainability journey. Rebecca Hou, Environmental Sustainability product advisor for Vizient joins Host LaTammy Marks to discuss this important issue.   Guests: Rebecca Hou Environmental Sustainability Product Advisor Vizient Moderator: LaTammy Marks PI Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:23 – 02:19]  Rebecca's role at Vizient [02:20 – 04:18]  Why environmental sustainability should be top of mind in healthcare [04:19 – 05:32]  Health risks our patient populations can face [05:33 – 07:00]  Hospitals focus on increased health risk utilization to improve sustainability [07:01 – 08:44]  How organizations are contributing to the environmental risk [08:45 – 10:35]  What healthcare organizations can do to decrease emissions [10:36 – 12:05]  The number one thing that organizations can do to start focusing on sustainability For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

We have a Workplace Violence Survey underway now. The survey consists of 9 questions related to 4 outcome metrics. The deadline to submit data is August 18, 2023. If interested, please contact picollaborativesteam@vizientinc.com   Closing out Workplace Violence Awareness Month, Lindsay Mayer and Heidi Boehm deep dive into protocols and procedures for dealing with the aftermath of a violent event.   Guest speaker: Heidi Boehm Behavioral Health Program Manager The University of Kansas Health System   Moderator: Lindsay Mayer Senior Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:02] Survey employees to learn how supported they feel.     [02:59] Awareness campaigns help reduce workplace violence.    [05:39] Implement a comprehensive and standardized debriefing process.    [08:37] Simply checking in with staff, post-event, is a powerful tool. [09:50] COVID has impacted the launch of a post-event leadership guidebook.     [11:02] Routine, ongoing data collection is very important. [12:29] Leaders must be equipped with the necessary tools.   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

We have a Workplace Violence Survey underway now. The survey consists of 9 questions related to 4 outcome metrics. The deadline to submit data is August 18, 2023. If interested, please contact picollaborativesteam@vizientinc.com   Continuing the discussion for Workplace Violence Awareness Month, Lindsay Mayer, Rick Litzinger, and Dan Hunnisett explore the importance of building a solid foundation for staff education and training programs around workplace violence.   Guest speaker: Rick Litzinger Manager, Emergency Preparedness, Safety, Security Altru Health System   Dan Hunnisett Security Program Specialist, Security  Altru Health System   Moderator: Lindsay Mayer Senior Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:26] Education is foundational in addressing workplace violence, so it is vital to assess your organization's training gaps and educational needs.     [03:00] Strong training programs include several key components.    [03:54] Altru's multi-tiered training curriculum.    [07:09] The challenges and successes of virtual learning, as experienced during the pandemic. [08:44] Surveys are extremely important in understanding your organization's culture of safety, as well as education needs and preferences.     [11:01] Recommended to strengthen your training program: Data collection and cross-discipline strategic partnerships.   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

We have a Workplace Violence Survey underway now. The survey consists of 9 questions related to 4 outcome metrics. The deadline to submit data is August 18, 2023. If interested, please contact picollaborativesteam@vizientinc.com   In recognition of Workplace Violence Awareness Month, Lindsay Mayer, Mark Reed, and Diana Scott discuss the latest workplace violence statistics and the trends organizations are facing within the industry.   Guest speaker: Mark Reed Director of Support Services MLK Community Healthcare   Diana Scott Associate Vice President of Accreditation and Regulatory Advisory Services Vizient   Moderator: Lindsay Mayer Senior Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:53] Workplace violence has increased continuously throughout 2020 and 2021. [02:49] The pandemic is a major contributing factor.   [04:30] The workforce shortage has impacted organizations.   [05:38] The Joint Commission has released new requirements for 2022. [08:24] Organizations are implementing unique and innovative strategies.    [10:55] Leaders can aid in addressing and preventing workplace violence.   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

More and more, healthcare organizations are focusing on Advance Care Planning as a best practice for treating patients with multiple chronic conditions. This approach can be particularly beneficial in working with patients who have exhausted treatment options and approach end of life. On this episode, two clinical leaders from The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania discuss their approach to Advance Care Planning. Guest speakers: Rachel Mea, MSN, RN, OCN Clinical Practice Lead The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania   Erin Lightheart, MBA Master Improvement Advisor The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania   Host: Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ PI Program Director Vizient Show Notes: [00:23] Advance Care Planning defined; rationale for this approach [01:09] Origins of initiative at Penn Medicine [02:03] Starting point [02:49] Avoiding moral distress among clinicians [04:00] Improved communications [05:10] Challenges [06:07] Outcomes [06:47] What's next [07:29] Feedback; relevance to families Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Shannon's email: shannon.hale@vizientinc.com Erin's email: erin.lightheart@pennmedicine.upenn.edu Rachel's email: rachel.mea@pennmedicine.upenn.edu Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

Most hospital patients spend over 80 percent of their stay in the bed. Immobility contributes to higher lengths of stay, increases in falls, pressure injuries and new nursing home placements. All of this reduces overall quality of care and patient satisfaction. On this episode, we examine a health care organization that has embarked on a journey to reverse this trend by getting patients up and moving all across the hospital. ThedaCare participated in the Creating a Culture of Mobility Collaborative, and we'll provide the details on this podcast. Guest speakers: Kelly Parish, DPT Physical Therapist ThedaCare   Amy Shadick, RN, BSN, CV-BC Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit Manager ThedaCare Host: Laura Hoffman, DNP, MSN, RN, CPHQ Performance Improvement Program Director Vizient Show Notes: [01:26] Empowering patients by improving their handling [02:10] Story of bariatric patient who became mobile [02:58] Use of Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool (BMAT) [03:36] Training in patient handling: didactic and hands-on [05:45] Meaning of safe patient handling; equipment used for initiative [07:03] Details and impact of hands-on training: 3 fewer nursing injuries, 10 fewer falls [08:56] Mobilizing patients and effect on falls [11:20] Metrics on new program [12:09] Future plans and partnerships Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Laura's email: laura.hoffman@vizientinc.com Kelly's email: kelly.parish@thedacare.org Amy's email: amy.shadick@thedacare.org Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

Telehealth found wide adoption and acceptance during the pandemic, accompanied with loosened government restrictions on its use. On this episode, two experts examine the current state of telehealth, bolstered by findings from the project Effective Strategies for Sustaining and Optimizing Telehealth in Primary Care conducted by Vizient and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Guest speaker: Danielle Carder, MSc Senior Program Specialist Access and Clinical Innovations Association of American Medical Colleges Host: Courtney Furrow-White, MPM, RN Senior PI Program Director Vizient Show Notes: [00:26] The project [00:37] The surge of telehealth [02:15] Vizient-AAMC partnership: survey and resulting video interviews [03:37] Foundational investments: technology, work force, care services [05:25] Effective strategies to incorporate telehealth [07:05] Provider and staff engagement – physicians as drivers [08:25] A seamless patient encounter [09:36] Use of metrics [10:34] Challenges and barriers [14:16] Use will continue into the future Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Joint Telehealth Report: Click here Courtney's email: courtney.furrowwhite@vizientinc.com Danielle's email: dcarder@aamc.org Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

Since its development over 50 years ago, the stethoscope hasn't changed much – until now. Enter artificial intelligence (AI). On this episode, we discuss how AI, working with robust datasets, promises to enhance the newest generation of stethoscopes, maybe in the very near future.   Guest speaker: Joe Cummings, PhD Technology Program Director Vizient   Moderator: Marilyn Sherrill, RN, MBA PI Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:36] Deep learning AI algorithms for heart sounds [03:04] Need for a large data set to train an AI neural network – machine learning [04:08] Electronic stethoscopes [05:21] Public databases: the key to development of alternative technologies [05:33] Phonocardiogram [07:30] Does it work? [08:35] Adjunct tool [09:42] “Hospitals should be buying outcomes, not technologies” [10:15] Publications and studies to come [10:53] Improving diagnostic accuracy over time [12:57] Detecting heart failure (Mayo)   Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Marilyn's email: marilyn.sherrill@vizientinc.com Joe's email: joe.cummings@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

In the wake of COVID, the nation's health care organizations are experiencing staffing shortages, burnout and other workforce challenges.  Health leaders are turning to innovation, technology and alternative staffing models to address these challenges. Vizient's Principal of Clinical Workforce Strategy, Dr. Jacqueline Herd, joins us to discuss ways health organizations can improve efficiency, workforce optimization and redesign their models of care.   Guest speaker: Jacqueline Herd, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE Principal, Clinical Workforce Strategy Vizient   Moderator: Amber Hanser, MHA, CPHQ Senior Program Director Performance Improvement Programs Vizient    Show Notes: [01:24] Dr. Jacqueline Herd's background [02:47] The need for new models of care to handle shortages and to compete with retail [04:55] Reimagining workflow involves redesigning how work is done and how to make it more efficient so we stop burnout and exhaustion [05:27] Models of care that make work more efficient   [08:05] Working top of license and certification [10:21] Integrating the community care worker into the care team [12:16] Understanding what a licensed practical nurse (LPN) can do helps them work at top of license    [14:52] Virtual nursing   Links | Resources: Vizient Nursing Workforce Intelligence Report: Click Here Contact Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Jackie Herd's email:  jackie.herd@vizientinc.com Amber Hanser's email: amber.hanser@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

Patient length of stay (LOS) is a crucial measurement for health care organizations since longer patient stays increase patient risk for complications while reducing patient satisfaction. They also represent higher costs for the hospital. At the University of Kentucky, using a model of short-term improvement actions called “sprints,” along with participation in a Vizient performance improvement collaborative and the commitment of senior leaders, a clinical performance team has led an initiative to reduce LOS that has produced strong, ongoing results.   Guest speakers: Jennifer Rose, MBA Associate Vice President Core Clinical and Performance Services UK HealthCare   Lauren Miller, MBA Senior Quality Improvement Specialist Core Clinical and Performance Services UK HealthCare   Moderator: Margaret Rudisill, MS-HQS, RN Performance Improvement Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [02:54] Working on reducing LOS at UK HealthCare [04:00] Joining the Vizient Performance Improvement Collaborative [04:32] Leadership involvement, participant accountability, process transparency [06:39] Linking with the stakeholders [07:46] The Sprint Model and the Forcefield Analysis [08:51] Three themes [09:56] How the Sprint brings testing to a quick resolution [11:09] Sprint example   Links | Resources: Contacting Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Margaret's email: margaret.rudisill@vizientinc.com Jennifer's email: jennifer.rose@uky.edu Lauren's email: lauren.miller@uky.edu Sample Forcefield Analysis: Forcefield Analysis Template   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

The mental health of our children is important to our society. Unfortunately, the state of mental wellness for our nation's children and adolescents is declining. Twenty percent were diagnosed with a mental disorder before COVID-19, and only a fraction of that is receiving professional help. Vizient's Technology Program Director, Joe Cummings joins us to discuss innovative digital technologies to help our young people who are getting mental health treatment.   Guest speaker: Joe Cummings, PhD Technology Program Director Vizient   Moderator: Laura Hoffman, DNP, MSN, RN, CPHQ Program Director Performance Improvement Programs Vizient   Show Notes: [01:30] Digital technology used in healthcare [02:20] Prescriptive digital therapeutics [04:05] Innovative digital technologies that appeal to children [07:40] Game playing improving ADHD outcomes [09:12] Virtual reality to improve adolescent stress [09:50] Family engagement important for successful outcomes in pediatric behavioral health [11:40] Digital therapy is one tool for cognitive care, may still need in-person care [13:10] Technology for diagnosing pediatric conditions   Links | Resources: Contact Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Joe's email: joe.cummings@vizientinc.com Laura's email: laura.hoffman@vizientinc.com Addressing the Pediatric Mental Health Crisis with Integrated Behavioral Health blog: Click Here   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

In healthcare today, with care shifting from hospitals and clinics to the home, remote patient monitoring (RPM) provides a key foundational element to the success of that transition. Health care organizations need to fully implement RPM as a vital strategy to promote health and improve patient management and care. Through RPM, providers capture disease-related and physiological data on the patient and digitally transmit that data via telephone, internet, or video conferencing from the patient's home to a healthcare center, providing clinical feedback. Nowadays, RPM devices such as intelligence sensors, wearables, or handheld devices, internet-connected cellphones, and implanted monitoring devices are widely available. This podcast episode explores the latest RPM innovations with a leading expert in health technology.   Guest speaker: Joe Cummings, PhD Technology Program Director Vizient   Moderator: Courtney Furrow-White, MPM, RN Senior Performance Improvement Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:32] Ramping up digital technologies [02:12] Shortening the hospital learning curve of tech adoption [03:21] Making captured physiologic info part of the care paradigm [04:06] Solving several healthcare challenges [05:13] Impact of consumerism on RPM: wireless, patches, expanding vitals collection [08:50] Contactless sensors: how they work [10:04] AI is here: chatbots, disruption, deep-learning algorithms, decision support [12:14] Challenges to RPM   Links | Resources: Contact Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com Joe's email: joe.cummings@vizientinc.com Courtney's email: courtney.furrowwhite@vizientinc.com “If you still aren't sure what ChatGPT is” (Business Insider): Click here Innovative Technology for Remote Monitoring (Vizient): Click here   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

Revenue and margins, deferred surgeries, preventive care, rising patient acuity, a maturing inpatient to outpatient shift and the persistent pressure of health inequality impact surgery volumes.   In the second part of this two-part program, Dr Jay Prystowski and Rosanne Zagone join host Marilyn Sherrill to discuss the effects of first case, on time starts and how important staying on time is for a surgical facility.   Guests: Jay Prystowski, MD Principal Vizient   Rosanne Zagone, MS Associate Principal Vizient   Moderator: Marilyn Sherrill Senior PI Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:32 – 03:07]  Why first case, on time starts are so important [03:08 – 04:12]  Standard definition of on time starts [04:13 – 06:34]  Grace periods for on time starts [06:35 – 07:41]  Cutoff times for on time starts [07:42 – 12:33]  Impacts of first case delays [12:34 – 16:15]  Getting schedules back on track [16:16 – 19:47]  Benefits of on time starts   For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

Revenue and margins, deferred surgeries, preventive care, rising patient acuity, a maturing inpatient to outpatient shift and the persistent pressure of health inequality impact surgery volumes.   In the first part of this two-part program, Dr Jay Prystowski and Rosanne Zagone join host Marilyn Sherrill to discuss the effects on surgical services throughput as it relates to operating room utilization and how it impact a hospital's mission.   Guests: Jay Prystowski, MD Principal Vizient   Rosanne Zagone, MS Associate Principal Vizient   Moderator: Marilyn Sherrill Senior PI Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:32 – 02:39]  Why operating room utilization is so important [02:40 – 05:42]  How operating room utilization is calculated [05:43 – 07:44]  The item that most impacts optimal utilization [07:45 – 10:00]  Open room blocks and how they help with operating room utilization [10:01 – 13:24]  Is there a standard calculation of operating room utilization [13:25 – 16:09]  Typical utilization rates on average [16:10 – 19:05]  Other thoughts   For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed  

This episode continues examining insights gained from the Optimization of Biosimilars Medications Collaborative.   Chelsee Jensen and Scott Soefje from Mayo Clinic discuss their participation in the project, key takeaways and what's on the horizon in the Biosimilar market.    Speakers: Chelsee J. Jensen, Pharm.D., BCPS, R.Ph. Senior Pharmacy Specialist, Pharmaceutical Formulary Manager Supply Chain Management Mayo Clinic   Scott Soefje, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, FCCP, FHOPA Director, Pharmacy Cancer Care Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Mayo Clinic   Moderator: Jim Lichauer, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP Sr PI Program Director, Pharmacy Vizient   Show Notes: [00:42] Current state of the Biosimilar market [01:58] The financial opportunity available and what that opportunity might look like [03:56] Key strategies and impactful strategies utilized during the collaborative [07:07] Key takeaways from the collaborative project [08:25] Moving Biosimilars into the retail space and what that might mean [10:48] Navigating the complexities of medications covered under the pharmacy benefit [11:46] Other Biosimilar products on the way [12:30] Final thoughts and advice for organizations considering Biosimilars   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

With a potential savings of over $100 million over the next five years, spend on biologics continues to outpace the total market by a two-to-one margin. However, utilization rates in the United States have been slowed by numerous issues.   Wendy Biese and Carmen Gust join this episode to discuss the strategies ThedaCare Regional Medical Center has adopted to optimize biosimilars, and some of the barriers they've had to overcome in order to achieve their successful results.   Speakers: Wendy Biese, PharmD, DPLA System Director – Pharmacy Services ThedaCare Regional Medical Center   Carmen Gust, PharmD, BCPS System Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator ThedaCare Regional Medical Center   Moderator Jim Lichauer, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP Sr PI Program Director, Pharmacy Vizient   Show Notes: [00.05] Background information on biosimilars and the history of biologics spend. [01:40] Background information about ThedaCare. [03:42] ThedaCare's initial work with biosimilar conversion, from 2018 to early 2022. [05:57] How ThedaCare's game-changer initiative began, in the cancer center, and how key stakeholders were engaged. [09:37] ThedaCare's best practices for actively converting patients to biosimilars. [12:04] Results so far, including outcomes and projected savings. [13:01] Advice for organizations planning to implement similar biosimilar strategies. [15:21] How ThedaCare is moving into the next phase of biosimilar conversion, and strategies for overcoming challenges.   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

Studies have shown that Care At Home promotes an effective and cost-efficient manner for patients to recover.   Jayme Zage and Brianna Motley, both from Sg2, join this episode to discuss the findings and insights garnered from the Integrated Performance Solution Care At Home Strategy Accelerator and how organizations can identify and prioritize what options and programs best fit their health-care-at-home strategy.   Speakers: Jayme Zage, PhD Principal, Intelligence Sg2   Brianna Motley Principal, Intelligence Sg2   Moderator: Courtney Furrow-White, MPM, RN Senior Performance Improvement Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:21] Background information about the IPS Strategy Accelerator and how Vizient and Sg2 define Care At Home [03:28] Explanation of the portfolio approach to Care At Home [04:52] Why it makes sense strategically for an organization to consider Care At Home [06:10] Questions organizations should ask of themselves and their leadership as they consider this strategy [07:44] Insights gained from participants in the Strategy Accelerator [11:27] Levers needed to develop a sustainable Care At Home business model [14:05] How this strategy can impact staffing concerns [17:39] Recommendations for organizations looking to prioritize Care At Home resources they might already have [20:16] Final thoughts and advice   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

Research indicates that unmet social determinants of health —such as transportation, housing, and food security —can negatively impact health outcomes.   Kristin Burger O'Neal and Donna Avila join this episode to discuss how their team at Norman Regional Health System began screening for social determinants of health, and the impact on patient care.   Speakers: Donna Avila, RN Director, Care Coordination Norman Regional Health System   Kristin Burger O'Neal, BSN, RN, CCM, ACM-RN Administrator, Post-Acute Transitions and Community Engagement Norman Regional Health System    Moderator:   Laura Hoffman, DNP, MSN, RN, CPHQ Program Director Performance Improvement Collaboratives   Show Notes: [01:20] Why now is the right time to concentrate on social determinants of health. [03:36] Norman Regional Health System's engagement in the communities they serve, and the idea of the “elder orphan.” [05:13] The transportation program's impact on elder orphans. [07:15] What's involved in screening for social determinants of health, and what is done with patients determined to be at-risk. [11:14] The Community Health Navigator role and its effect on patients in the community. [13:59] Next steps in the process for Norman Regional Health System. [15:50] Advice for other health systems considering screening for social determinants of health. [16:41] Why it is invaluable to keep an open mind about your patient population.   Links | Resources: For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed  

Adults with food insecurities have an increased risk for negative health outcomes, including obesity and chronic disease; and children with food insecurities may be at a higher risk for obesity, developmental problems and mental health issues. In this podcast, we'll discuss what Main Line Health is doing to address food insecurities for their patients who come through their emergency departments.   Guest speakers:  Joanna Dixon, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CEN Lead Clinical Nurse Educator Nurse Residency and Onboarding Main Line Health System    Joseph MacDonald, CSSBB, MBA Process Improvement Engineer Main Line Health System    Shonalie Roberts, MHA, ARM, LSSGB System Director, Health Equity Main Line Health System   Host:   Laura Hoffman, DNP, MSN, RN, CPHQ Program Director Performance Improvement Collaboratives   Show Notes:  [1:48] Why Main Line Health decided use the emergency department to screen for food insecurities   [2:53] Their screening revealed 530 patients with food insecurities, and the nurses wanted to do more for those patients and that was the beginning of their food bag program [3:34] The ED screening program isn't the first food insecurity program at Main Line Health. The Deaver Wellness Farm on their Lankenau Medical Center campus has supplied fruits and vegetables to patients during doctor visits since 2015. [6:00] Who supports the food bag program [6:47] EMR helps with the lunch bag program's workflow [8:00] Sustainability for the program takes streamlined behind the scenes logistics and standardization of tasks [10:52] Food bag content [12:00] Follow up after the patient receives the food bag [12:48] Program impact on the patients and staff   For more information, email picollaboratives@vizientinc.com   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

This episode features a team using a systemwide approach to communicate quality data and engage their stakeholders. Through this ongoing process, they have forged relationships that have improved patient care throughout the Intermountain Healthcare organization.   Guest speakers: Bonnie Gregson, MSN, CPHQ System Quality Senior Clinical Operations Manager Office of Patient Experience Intermountain Healthcare   Daniel Barker, MBA, RRT Clinical Operations Manager Office of Patient Experience Intermountain Healthcare   Moderator: Margaret Rudisill, MS-HQS, RN PI Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:26] Developing communication process to impact each care site [02:34] Communication channels [03:18] Engagement approach – a non-threatening attitude [05:36] Looking at gaps to reduce PSI 3s (patient safety indicator for pressure ulcers) [06:14] “What if” calculator for care site benchmarking [07:04] Sharing systemwide – “system learning” [09:05] Quality Insights Dashboard – sharing PSI data and best practices systemwide [11:29] Other communication approaches across the system [13:18] Beyond PSIs – mortality, QAPI data [14:38] Not about reducing the numbers [16:18] “Fail fast, move forward”   Links | Resources: Recent PI Collaborative broadcast featuring Bonnie Gregson and Danny Barker discussing their quality approach at Intermountain Healthcare: Click Here To contact Knowledge on the Go: picollaboratives@vizientinc.com To contact Bonnie: bonnie.gregson@imail.org To contact Danny: daniel.barker@imail.org   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

CDC statistics suggest that one in three people who die in a hospital have sepsis. Furthermore, in almost 87% of cases the patient had sepsis or a sepsis-causing infection before admission to the hospital. Innovative healthcare organizations are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to combat sepsis. In this episode, Dr. Joe Cummings explains the technology and shares the latest developments in the battle against sepsis.   Guest speaker: Joe Cummings, PhD  Technology Program Director  Vizient    Moderator: Shannon Hale Performance Improvement Collaboratives Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:36] Basic definition of artificial intelligence (AI). [02:21] AI subtypes important to the sepsis discussion. [03:49] More on how AI can combat sepsis. [05:39] Barriers to implementation. [09:55] Other AI models and their results.    [11:33] What the future holds for sepsis models.  [12:20] Advice to organizations interested in AI options for sepsis.   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

Facilitating access to care for patients is focused on ensuring timely, necessary, and appropriate health care services. Improving access to care is a strategic priority for most health systems and a challenge for nearly all.   The Association of American Medical Colleges and Vizient recently collaborated on a study regarding a patient-centered approach to optimizing ambulatory access.  Guests on this episode discuss those findings and   insights from ambulatory care leaders, physicians, and staff in five academic medical centers whose organization's access performance has been outstanding.   Guest Speakers: Nicole Spatafora, MS-HSM AVP, Performance Improvement PI Collaboratives Vizient   Danielle Carder, MSC Senior Program Specialist, Access & Clinical Innovations Association of American Medical Colleges   Moderator: Courtney Furrow-White, MPM, RN Senior Performance Improvement Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:28] General findings from the project, including primary drivers of success. [04:12] More details about what the framework. [04:56] The role engaged leadership plays in success. [06:03] Supporting foundational leadership and culture with organization-wide structure and standard processes. [07:08] Actionable data and analytics.   [09:43] Optimizing care delivery. [11:50] The role of workforce engagement in reducing turnover and burnout. [13:28] Leveraging technology.   [16:36] Summary of the project findings. [17:44] Recommendations for organizations that want to incorporate this framework.   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

Indirect spending is defined as any purchase or services that are internal or external to a healthcare organization but fall outside of med-surg supplies, pharmacy, physician preference items (PPI), and capital. You might be surprised to learn that indirect spending accounts for up to 30% of a hospital's total operating expenses. Today's guests discuss the current state of indirect spending, its importance in the healthcare space, and some of their success stories.    Guest speaker: John Andrews Strategic Sourcing Manager - Purchased Services Business Diversity Manager Rush University Medical Center   Hawanya Blakely, MBA Strategic Sourcing Manager - Purchased Services  Purchasing & Contracting Rush University Medical Center   Moderator: LaTammy Marks, MBA, BSN, RN Performance Improvement Program Director, PI Collaboratives Vizient   Show Notes: [02:04] The state of indirect spend within healthcare organizations today. [03:33] How Rush University Medical Center took a proactive approach to identifying indirect spend opportunities. [05:01] Why Rush University Medical Center made indirect spending a priority. [07:51] How leadership sponsorship contributed to their success. [09:12] Where a healthcare organization should start.  [10:23] Importance of participating in the Vizient Reducing Variation Indirect Spend Benchmarking Study. [11:25] Understanding your indirect spending and the number of vendors that you're using within a specific category. [12:07] Importance of aligning across various system facilities.   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

Early detection of cancer can dramatically increase the efficacy of curative treatment. Unfortunately, early screening tests exist for only a small number of cancers, meaning most are not diagnosed until symptoms arise in the later stages of the disease.   Better cancer screening is, therefore, a major focus area for clinical performance improvement. Marilyn Sherrill talks with Dr. Joe Cummings about a new genomic test that can theoretically screen for more than 50 different types of cancer using a small blood sample, and what the future may hold for this technology.   Guest speaker: Joe Cummings, PhD  Technology Program Director  Vizient    Moderator: Marilyn Sherrill, RN, MBA Performance Improvement Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:28] The Grail Galleri liquid biopsy test. [02:18] Sampling methodology. [02:55] The analytic process of the Grail Galleri test, and some developmental history. [04:01] Testing methodology is based on methylation patterns. [05:36] Results of the clinical studies to-date, and status of ongoing studies. [08:13] Early adopters include some larger healthcare systems and, potentially, anyone willing to self-pay. [09:04] Test costs and preliminary cost/benefit anaylsis. [11:02] Considerations re: payers' willingness to cover test costs. [12:09] Looking forward to trial results and potential FDA approval. [13:05] With many companies doing R&D in the liquid biospy field, the development of competing and complementary tests is to be expected.   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

As sepsis continues to be a major cause of death representing a substantial healthcare burden, Vizient hosted a performance improvement collaborative focused on sepsis early recognition. Shannon Hale explores guidelines and best practices with collaborative participant Amy Lorenz of Covenant HealthCare.    Guest speaker: Amy Lorenz  Lead Quality Improvement Specialist Covenant Healthcare   Moderator: Shannon Hale  Performance Improvement Collaboratives Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:03] Covenant Healthcare identified sepsis fallouts in order to enhance education related to Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines. [01:59] Covenant created an online reference tool — a sepsis awareness page —to communicate about guideline revisions and fallout areas with all clinical staff. [03:27] The sepsis awareness page was promoted to educate clinical staff and ensure usage. [04:08] Executive and physician-driven support strongly enriched the collaboration. [05:06] Covenant provides sepsis awareness page data monthly.   [05:40] Lack of education about and awareness of the CMS guidelines has been the greatest challenge.     Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed

A high reliability organization is an organization that has experienced significant success in avoiding harm within an environment of high complexity and risk. These organizations create a collective state of mindfulness that produces an enhanced ability to discover and correct errors before they escalate into a crisis. Marilyn Sherrill discusses high reliability culture with Dr. Michael Leonard of Safe & Reliable Healthcare and Dr. Gena Futral from Vizient.     Guest speaker: Michael Leonard, MD Founder, Chief Medical Officer Safe & Reliable Healthcare LLC   Gena Futral, DHA, RN, CPHQ, FACHE Executive Principal, Reliability and Management Systems Vizient   Moderator: Marilyn Sherrill, RN, MBA Performance Improvement Program Director Vizient   Show Notes: [01:42] Background information about Safe & Reliable Healthcare LLC and culture. [02:30] Why Vizient has partnered with Safe & Reliable Healthcare LLC. [03:20] Safe & Reliable Healthcare's high reliability framework. [05:13] The synergies between Vizient and Safe & Reliable Healthcare. [06:38] The importance of culture and why it is a starting point for this work.   [09:00] Measuring culture: survey results and what that data means. [10:37] Vizient's methodology for helping organizations along their high reliability journey, including LENS, Safe & Reliable Healthcare's management and communication technology. [15:14] Advice for organizations considering a high reliability journey, and last thoughts.   Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Amazon Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Android Stitcher RSS Feed