Care & Associate Initiatives
With the introduction of each new drug, technology and regulation, the processes of care become more complicated, creating an elaborate set of procedures connecting various hospital units and departments. Trinity Regional Health System has simplified these procedures and protocols and has chosen to adopt three key frameworks: AIDET, Adaptive Design and ACES.
AIDET
AIDET is a framework for staff to communicate with patients and their families, as well as each other. This framework can be used as we communicate with other staff and colleagues, especially when we are providing an internal service.
AIDET’s Five Fundamentals of Communication
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Acknowledge: The patient by name. Make eye contact. "Is there anything I can do for you? “
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Introduce: Yourself, your skill set, your professional certification and experience.
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Duration: Give an accurate time expectation for tests, physician arrival and tray delivery.
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Explanation: Explain step by step what will happen, answer questions and leave a phone number where you can be reached.
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Thank: The patient for choosing your hospital and for their communication and cooperation. Thank the family for assistance and being there to support the patient.
Adaptive Design
Adaptive Design develops people and system to deliver exactly what the patient needs, safely, at continually lower cost. This system is dependent on “front line” staff, who are continually solving problems to impact patients. Most central to the idea of Adaptive Design is the process of continually asking, “Why?” to determine the root cause of each presenting problem. Extensive observations and countless hours of patient interaction help make Adaptive Design possible.
Ten Tips for Achieving Ideal Patient Care Through Adaptive Design
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Do not substitute assumption for direct observation at the point of service.
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When faced with a challenge, always ask, “Is this ideal patient care?” and use ideal to clarify your direction.
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There is no life without learning and change.
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Higher core values need to rule: integrity, courage, and character.
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Lower core values will not last without the higher ones: productivity, outcomes, etc.
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Do not be discouraged when something fails. It is all part of the learning, and an opportunity to redesign.
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Process improvement on this level is hard work! But that’s why it works for the long term.
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Go for the simple solution first. Technology often isn’t the answer.
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Map out your process on paper. Sometimes the obvious is not clear until you see it drawn out.
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Do not give up! Patient care is dependant upon you.
ACES
To learn more about our ACES Standards of Behavior, click here.