| Título: | Improving patient care: Changing culture vs changing linen |
| Autores: |
Galloway, J; Rehabilitation and Aged Care Services (RACS), Kingston Centre, Monash Health, Cheltenham, VIC. Bickerstaff, L; Rehabilitation and Aged Care Services (RACS), Kingston Centre, Monash Health, Cheltenham, VIC. Keenan, C; Rehabilitation and Aged Care Services (RACS), Kingston Centre, Monash Health, Cheltenham, VIC. |
| Fecha: | 2013-10-13 |
| Publicador: | Hunter New England Local Health District |
| Fuente: |
Ver documento |
| Tipo: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion |
| Tema: | Nursing; Midwifery; Rehabilitation; Aged Care; Hospital Services; Service Improvement |
| Descripción: | A re-design project focusing on linen utilisation implemented at Monash Health’s Kingston Centre has shown that improving efficiency does not equate with downgrading patient care. Kingston is a stand-alone 315 bed Sub-acute, Residential and Aged Persons Mental Health service in the South-Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. As fiscal pressures and patient demand increase, health services across Australia are seeking to improve the efficiency of their service provision while maintaining or improving the quality of the patient experience. In 2011, Monash Health identified the ‘Living within Our Means’ strategy as one of four key organisational priorities. The organisation undertook a wide ranging review of expenditure to establish areas for improvement. Linen usage was identified as one such area by staff at the Kingston Centre. Interactive workshops using lean value stream mapping were conducted to identify factors contributing to rising linen costs. Direct observation and tracking of current processes was undertaken in selected areas. Small focus groups were also conducted with staff across all shifts to identify current staff attitudes and behavior in respect to linen usage. Findings: Inappropriate linen use, for example, using towels to mop up spillsMinimal understanding of current linen management processesNo standardised systems or processes for ordering or managing linenStaff regularly hoarded linen because they did not trust that they would be able to access linen when neededSubstantial variation in the quality of the linen provided Actions: Linen Champions appointed in each ward Linen ordering and storage and management standards developedClear standards and guidelines for linen usage established for staffProcess established to handle reject productsIdentified linen products to improve the patient experienceQuarterly linen audits implemented Outcomes: Staff no longer hoard linen supplies.Linen costs reduced by $63,000 in 12 monthsLinen impress now closely matched to patient need |
| Idioma: | Inglés |