FOCUSING ON WHAT MATTERS

By Bette Brotherton
CLINICAL IMPROVEMENT VICE PRESIDENT

Patient Jim Beau Reinhardt visits with University of Florida pediatric surgeon Dr. David W. Kays for a check-up.

In the last Q Report, UF&Shands senior leaders congratulated everyone for working together to achieve a 4-star rating by the University Health System Consortium. This represents our marked improvements in clinical outcomes on key quality and patient safety metrics.

Because our ultimate goal is to be recognized with a 5-star rating, our journey to performance excellence is continuing. In September, the Board Quality Committee approved new Big Aims, goals and related strategies for the coming year. In this issue of the Q Report, we want to highlight and share these Big Aims with you, because it is only with your commitment and contributions that we will achieve our patient care and quality goals.

You might ask, “How were these aims developed?” Our Board Quality Committee recommended goals based on data and information they review monthly. In July we held a hospital and medical staff leadership Quality/Safety Retreat, and we reviewed feedback from interdisciplinary break-out groups. We used a multi-voting process to prioritize opportunities for improvement. The 2011-2012 Big Aims then received final approval by the committee.

So what’s next? A key strategy to achieve these aims is to ensure alignment, messaging and communication at all levels of UF&Shands, between physicians, residents, students and employees as well as College of Medicine and College of Nursing curriculum committees and leaders.

The Big Aims are organized in these categories: Reduce Harm, Improve the Patient Experience and Reduce Variation in Care. There are six goals within the three aims with measurable targets because as someone once said, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t say you improved it.” We will form performance-improvement teams and stay focused on taking advantage of opportunities to build on our strengths. We will keep the Board Quality Committee updated and involved.

Please review Spotlight on the Big Aims of this issue for a description of the goals, aims and related strategies. This is an exciting time for us at UF&Shands as we experience the momentum mentioned in the Forward Together strategic plan. Let’s stay energized on our journey, to ensure the right care for the right patient, every time. Our patients are at the heart of everything we do.