Sandy Rader, chief nursing officer and vice president, Patient Care Services, UPMC Shadyside, said the “stars” being celebrated were those who stepped forward to develop projects that improve patient satisfaction and quality.
But the event also cast the spotlight on those who have developed projects to support their colleagues. Such projects, said Ms. Rader, include the Critical Incident Stress Management team. Members of this team receive training to provide emotional support to colleagues who experience difficulties coping with the loss of a patient or co-worker they have worked with for years.
Ms. Rader noted that caring for others also means thanking colleagues. To ensure co-workers are appreciated, the Medical Intensive Care Unit made a Monopoly board that substitutes UPMC landmarks such as the Hillman Cancer Center and UPMC East for traditional Monopoly properties. Staff members move to another property each time they receive a thank-you note from a colleague and a receive prize when they pass “Go.”
“It’s important that patients know what is going on,” said Ms. Seman. Projects completed by her council include Heads Up, which empowers staff in non-nursing roles to answer call bells and fill basic patient requests such as getting an extra pillow or refilling a water pitcher. Another project, Staff Listen Carefully, provides scripts that associates can use to introduce themselves to patients and provide instructions or updates.
Craig Luzinski of Minneapolis-based Creative Health Care Management presented the keynote address. Funding for the event was provided in part by the Shadyside Hospital Foundation.
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