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Description
Background: Staff Safety Huddles have been shown to improve communication and to help make patient safety a priority. Conducting daily safety huddles in Plano ACS are difficult because of how each nursing unit is structured. There are four units with 12 beds in each unit. The units are separated from each other and only have one charge nurse for all four units. Finding a solution to conduct daily huddles was a priority. Safety huddles occurred daily on both day and night shifts. Although the safety huddles helped identify safety concerns, it did not solve the problem of the entire department "huddling" together at one unified time to identify safety concerns.
Methods: Safety Huddles were trialed in a virtual forum. The virtual forum was done in collaboration with the virtual health team. The virtual model allows all four units to discuss safety events for their shift all together at one time.
Results: Safety Huddles began in March 2021 in person to get staff used to having huddles. Then we switched to a virtual model in April 2021.
The following safety issues were identified during Virtual Safety Huddles:
- 59 Patient safety concerns were expressed by staff and addressed proactively.
- 12 Medication safety concerns were expressed and resolved in collaboration with Pharmacy and ACS for medication delivery accuracy.
- 5 Clinical informatics/EPIC tools request were made to address concerns.
- 9 Engineering and Equipment requests were made.
- 1 Clinical Education request submitted
- 1 Patient Education submitted
Additionally, a RISE consult was made to support staff needs.
Conclusion: Virtual Safety Rounds were helpful in improving communication and help proactively address safety concerns of staff.
Publication Date
2021
Disciplines
Pediatric Nursing
Recommended Citation
Burris-Alcala, Rachael; Baker, Julie; and Gosdin, Ann, "Promoting Patient Safety using Virtual Safety Huddles" (2021). 2021. 13.
https://scholarlycollection.childrens.com/nursing-anf2021/13
