GP92 The experience of a daily hospital wide operational huddle at Temple Street Children's University Hospital. (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fitzgerald, Elaine; Fagan, Claire; Bauer, Grainne; Ryan, Sharon; O'Dwyer, Charlotte; Maidment, Sarah; Murtagh, Clara
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 104:(2019)Supplement 3
• Page Start: A67
• Page End: A67
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2019-epa.157
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : The increasing complexity of healthcare delivery makes care co-ordination and maintaining safety a continuous challenge. Adverse events persist at a rate of 10.7% and half of such events being preventable (Stockwell et al. 2018) The daily co-ordination of organisational needs results in a significant amount of information exchange across departments and individuals. This can affect the ability to plan and manage thus contributing to patient safety risk. Inter-dependant complex processes need a significant amount of information exchange and miscommunications could occur. - What was the initiative taken? A daily operational huddle to discuss key issues and plan ahead was piloted in 2014. The change was sustained and the huddle continuously improved and is now fully embedded. - How was the change implemented? Evidence from other organisations was reviewed. A format was designed and piloted amongst nursing staff initially. One representative from each department attended daily. Feedback and lessons learned were incorporated over time and the process expanded to include multiple departments. A pro forma whiteboard and huddle room was introduced in 2016. - What problems were encountered with the process of change and how were these overcome? Concerns regarding time to attend were initially expressed by frontline staff. Resolved by discussing benefits, visibility of teamwork in action through sharing resources and agreeing solutions. Additionally, it was agreed that attending the huddle reduced interruptions by phone calls. A survey of huddle participants revealed the following results; - How did this improve patient/client care? A daily forum now exists for planning, problem solving, identification of risks, sharing of lessons learned, sharing of resources and mass communication.