Quality over Quantity, One Tray at a Time:
In 2021, the University of Kansas Health System embarked on a safety journey with our sterile processing division. At that time, our teams faced significant challenges related to staffing, defects, and the culture of teamwork and safety. To address these issues, we established a sterile processing internship, implemented a quality monitoring system, and developed a culture framework. Three years later, our sterile processing department is nationally recognized, we have significantly reduced defects, and we have stabilized staffing needs by reducing our reliance on contractors by 90%.
Tool: Ascendco: Sonar- Instrument Tracking
Problem: We were trying to solve the issues of staffing shortages, frequent quality defects, and poor team culture within our sterile processing division, which were negatively impacting patient care and trust in our services.
Tool Selection: Ascendco: Sonar was the ideal solution for our problem because it offered a comprehensive, data-driven method to track and analyze instrument defects. Its advanced analytics enabled us to identify root causes, monitor trends, and implement targeted interventions, resulting in significant improvements in patient safety, operational efficiency, and overall quality.
Usage: Tracking quality defects for each
Results: Nationally recognized sterile processing department, reduced defects, stabilized staffing, and enhanced team engagement.
Sustainability: Continuous monitoring, ongoing training, fostering safety culture, and regularly updating quality processes.
Measurement: We tracked quality defects and monitored staffing levels using Ascendco: Sonar, Voalte, out-of-washer and buddy audits, defect rate tracking, and targeted education. These tools enabled just-in-time education, improved quality, and enhanced team engagement.
Analysis: We used descriptive statistics to summarize defect rates and staffing levels, control charts to monitor stability, Pareto analysis to prioritize common defects, fishbone diagrams to identify root causes, and trend analysis to observe changes over time and assess intervention impacts.
Implementation: We implemented enhanced tracking systems, internal messaging, audits, and targeted education. We overcame resistance, reliance on contract labor, defects, and poor morale through leadership support, internships, quality monitoring, and fostering a safety culture. Other professionals can adopt these strategies to improve quality, reduce defects, and enhance team engagement.
Speakers
Whitney Huddleston, RN, BSN, MHA, NEA-BC
Director of Perioperative and Procedural Services- Clin Ops - The University of Kansas Health System
Karen Hummitsch, MSN, RN, CPN
Assistant Director of Clinical Operations - The University of Kansas Health System
Event Details
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Quality Leadership and Integration
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Location Virtual
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Organizer NAHQ Next
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