How Can I Get Involvement In A Hospital Taskforce?

The hospital I work for is a 200-bed hospital that needs to improve it’s quality and safety scores. In order to due this, we have put together numerous Quality and Safety initiatives to be put into action in the coming year. Some of these are: Safety, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Timeliness, Equability, and Patient-Centered. We have also made different sub-committees in order to make these initiatives happen. I am on the sub-committee titled, “Quality Communication Task Force”. The purpose of the Quality Communication Task Force is to communicate key strategic initiatives in a focused, organized manner to all levels of the organization.

The main goal of the Quality Communication Task Force is to have every single employee in the hospital provide all six initiatives (Safety, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Timeliness, Equability, and Patient-Centered) and then be rewarded with some type of celebration. So, here’s my dilemma, how do we communicate all of these initiatives to the employees? We could do a PowerPoint in different sessions to the employees, but that doesn’t seem very engaging, and that doesn’t build excitement. And that is what we are trying to do. Build excitement and get everyone motivated to change and improve the hospital. Also, in addition to needing ideas on how to identify and bring these initiatives to the employees? Any ideas on a creative name for this committee? Besides, “Quality Communication Task Force”.

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Jay’s Answer: Start by creating some ideas for how different groups in the hospital can improve. Then hold meetings where employees meet with their supervisor and provide concrete ideas that are in alignment with your general goals (and more than just ideas – collect stories of things that people have done – they “stick”). Share these “best-practice” ideas with others within the organization. Consider finding other “best-practice” lists for other hospitals in your area as well.

To build excitement – focus on WHY people in the organization should care. Is it a matter of pride? job security? salary?

Share the stories – and make them about how a group within the hospital did something significant, not just the individual. You’re trying to build a team mentality for improvement, not just superstar individuals.

As for a name: Hospital Boosters. You’re trying to help people to help themselves, not force them into a specific set of behaviors.

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