How do you improve care quality with healthcare partners?

From my experiences working both in- and out-patient settings, oftentimes different disciplines working with patients seem to have little to no communication with each other. The LVN or RN did the research and acted as the go between. However with the growing shortage of non-licensed personnel, the RN /LVN functions in every aspect of their licensure (medication aide, patient care tech, advocate, and admission nurse). Plus, clerical staff and housekeeping. This makes it difficult for the nurse to properly review the clients’ record omitting duplicate care (the endocrinologist wrote something the neurologist wanted to add. Not to mention the primary MD might have mentioned in his or her note the treatment was tried and failed in the past).

Standardize Protocols and Guidelines: Develop and implement standardized care protocols and guidelines across all healthcare partners. Establish Effective Communication Channels: Collaborate on Care Plans: Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare partners Utilize Telehealth Technology: Foster a Culture of Learning and Improvement: Monitor and Evaluate Performance: Establish metrics and indicators to monitor the quality of care provided by all partners. Patient Engagement and Education: Involve patients actively in their care process. Care Coordination Teams: Designate care coordination teams Conduct Regular Training and Workshops: Utilize Data Analytics: Emphasize Continuity of Care:

Interoperability of many EMR systems allows you to share and receive care information in real time. Review these settings within your own system, and request that your care partners do so, with the ultimate goal of improving patient care and outcomes.

Improving care quality with healthcare partners requires a comprehensive approach. Here are some main strategies to consider: Define Shared Goals and Expectations; establish Open and Effective Communication; Share Data; Develop Standardized Protocols and Guidelines; Build Quality Indicators and Measurement; Engage in Joint Performance Improvement Initiatives; Have Regular Meetings and Workshops; Implement shared technology solutions; Develop Feedback Mechanisms: Conduct Performance Reviews; Keep Patient-Centered Approach; Facilitate Cross Training and Skill Development; Encourage partners to promote Innovation and Research; Recognize and celebrate successful quality improvement initiatives.  

I FOLLOW THIS SYSTEM UNIFORMITY: Establish standardized protocols and guidelines to ensure consistent care practices across healthcare partners. SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION: Implement integrated healthcare information systems to streamline data sharing and improve coordination of patient care. ONLINE SUPPORT: Provide online resources and telemedicine options for healthcare partners to access information and consult with specialists when needed. AUDIT: Conduct regular audits and assessments to monitor and improve the quality of care delivered by healthcare partners. TRAINING: Offer ongoing training programs and workshops to enhance the skills and knowledge of healthcare professionals within the network.

For 30 - 50% of Americans, you should not assume that care partners exist. Where the worst paying worst quality health insurance plans are concentrated, there is half enough primary care and mental health and womens health to go with half enough social supports. It gets worse since the elderly, poor, disabled, worst employers have the worst plans for 2621 counties lowest in health care workforce that are America's fastest growing in numbers, demand, and complexity. The assumption of care partners available is incorrect. The same is true of CMS assuming sufficient primary care by 2030, despite going backward for half of the nation for decades. Integration, coordination, patient centered care are prevented by fewer and lesser team members

Currently, most healthcare organizations hold and store their patients' information in silos for a number of reasons. However, for the sake of our patients, I would suggest establishing patient-centered, closed-loop communication amongst partners through a collaborative effort.

One of the first steps should be defining your goal and knowing what the patient expects . Running tertiary care facilities will have different goals than the clinics. One of the things i found helpful is running routine random feedback surveys to assess the satisfaction and outcome of your ongoing process.

It’s all about collaborating with our healthcare partners. And effective listening goes right along with that. We need to determine what their needs are and see how we can meet those needs. It’s as simple as asking…

Collaboration and coordination across the care continuum are essential strategies to improve care quality. Integrated care models and tools, such as care pathways, care plans, electronic health records, and telehealth, facilitate seamless information sharing. Involving patients and their families in the care process empowers them to make informed decisions and self-manage their conditions. Let's work together to promote a person-centered approach and ensure access to high-quality healthcare. Telehealth services connect with patients remotely, delivering quality care and reducing economic burdens. Coordinated care improves interaction between primary and specialty care, overcoming healthcare system obstacles.

Fewer and lesser delivery team members with higher turnover and burnout and worse is the result of the toxic practice environments shaped by poor finances and worst quality health insurance plans. Mold did studies on the implementation of quality improvement and found that changes in key team members, EHR, billing, location, and ownership disrupted this. The financial design gets worse where outcomes are inherently worse along with the determinants

What can you organization do to integrate services that improve quality of care and patient outcomes? Are there opportunities to embed services such as behavioral health therapy and medication management within your organization? Reach out to community partners to start conversations on how you can best collaborate to serve your mutual patients. The likelihood is that all involved parties are experiencing the same frustrations. Open the door to innovative solutions to improve patient care.

Having clear vision, mission and goals will help align the expectations with the partners and shareholders thus the rewarding and excellence recognition will be easy to promote and encourage for employees

Unfortunately healthcare in the US suffers from the most dangerous words: "That's the way we have always done it, why would we want to change!!!!!"

Implement Evidence-Based Practices: Base healthcare decisions on the best available evidence. Encourage healthcare providers to follow evidence-based guidelines and protocols. Use Technology Wisely: Leverage technology to streamline processes, reduce errors, and improve efficiency. Electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine, and other digital tools can enhance communication. Continuous Quality Improvement: Establish mechanisms for monitoring and improving quality. Conduct regular audits, collect feedback from patients and staff, and implement quality improvement initiatives based on data and insights. This iterative approach helps identify areas for improvement and implement necessary change

In my experience if you are clear about your objectives and work with partners who have similar objectives, it is easier to ensure the desired outcome. This may take several meetings to unpick particularly with a new partner as you often need to build trust before they are completely open and transparent about their aims.

The role of co-production enables one to expand/explore perspectives. Quality is only as good as the value it delivers and the meaning it brings to the users, governance structures and system. There is a certain level of courage and persistence required to explore how to evolve a system as well as amend communication across all levels and cadres for change management and quality improvement. There also has to be a space to accommodate and engage with dissent and complexity management.