Unit-based team concepts

• Hanging posters of cute kids as hand-washing reminders
• Installing sanitizer dispensers in and outside of patient rooms
• Making eye contact and talking with patients while washing hands

What can your team do motivate peers to hold each other accountable? 

• Identifying the number of patients off telemetry monitoring for longer than 3 minutes and why
• Huddling to discuss the severity and consequences of the problem
• Creating reminders to check monitors, and make it part of the routine

What can your team do hardwire improvements you make into your workflow?

• Surveying employees about attendance policies
• Creating guidelines around sick days, tardiness and dangling (not filling out time cards)
• Rewarding successful employees with a formal lunch

What can your team do to reward and recognize one another?

• Identifying which tests oncology patients actually need
• Creating and issuing a "golden ticket" to get patients to the front of the line
• Fast tracking the processing of labs before seeing the doctor

What can your team do to adjust your workflow in a way that puts the patient at the center?

• Using key phrases in malnutrition assessment to catch the attention of physicians
• Bolding their recommendations in notes to doctors
• Speaking directly to physicians about potentially malnourished patients

What can your team do to improve cooperation between physicians and other members of the care team?

• Communicating with the team
• Asking how the team prefers to communicate or meet
• Allowing team members to earn rewards for attendance

What can your team do to improve communication among its members? 

• Pairing a nurse with a buddy to help with patient response
• Designating backups to the buddies
• Communicating with the appropriate nurse the patient’s needs

What can your team do to allocate staff time and attention effectively and strategically? 

• Creating a daily stretching routine, and discussing work safety on a regular basis
• Discussing proper lifting and pushing techniques, and also the proper use of equipment
• Posting safe-driving and other safety awareness tips, and highlighting the number of injury-free days

What can your team do to reduce injuries and keep one another safe on the job? 

• Identifying workplace hazards
• Encouraging discussions about safety
• Promoting safety awareness programs or initiatives

What can your team do prevent injuries before they happen? 

• Identifying asthmatic patients, who haven’t processed refills
• Contacting in groups of five each week until every patient has been reached
• Communicating the benefits of inhaled corticosteroids

What can your team do to proactively reach out to patients to help them manage their chronic conditions?