Children's Hospitals Today - Fall 2024 - 26

FEATURE / CONNECTING
OPERATIONS & SYSTEMS
Go for Magnet
WHY SHOULD CHILDREN'S
hospitals invest money
and time pursuing a
designation? Children's
Health in Dallas and
Arkansas Children's COOs
say hospitals are already
investing significantly
in quality and employee
engagement efforts. Magnet
helps propel them forward
through an evidence-based
framework shown to drive
outcomes. The Magnet
model improves patient
outcomes, increases nurse
retention, and boosts
revenue. It differentiates
organizations in the market
by lending credibility in the
eyes of potential applicants.
In all, it means healthier
patients and a healthier
hospital. To achieve Magnet
designation, hospitals need
to demonstrate empirical
outcomes and create
heartfelt stories.
Workplace violence
TWO CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS
have developed strategies to
ensure the hsafety of their
employees and patients.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
created targeted initiatives,
focusing on enhanced security,
role clarification, de-escalation
techniques, system support,
and thorough data reviews.
Between January and
September 2024, the hospital
mitigated 2,608 potential
threats, implemented more
than 30 recommendations,
and created a streamlined
process to ensure victims are
contacted within 48 hours of an
incident. Nemours Children's
Health created a tiered
response system for behavioral
escalations. An Emergency
Response Needed Immediately
(ERNI) call is made prior to
calling a Behavioral Emergency
Response Team (BERT). The
ERNI response resulted in 82%
successful de-escalations.
Improving margins
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
Los Angeles is taking a tactical,
data-driven approach to improve
financial margins. The hospital's
Performance Excellence at
Children's (PEAC) initiative
looks for opportunities in
clinical performance, revenue
and staffing optimization,
and resource management.
Between fiscal years 2022 and
2024, team members identified
65 initiatives with the potential
to generate $100,000 in cost
savings. Using historical volume
data, contract data, fiscal year
budgets, and external sources
like CHA's Pediatric Health
Information System (PHIS®),
CHLA saw operating margin
improvements exceeding $50
million. PEAC initiatives included
improving radiology capacity
and creating multidisciplinary
action plans to expedite care,
reduce unnecessary tests,
streamline orders, and decrease
communication errors.
Behavioral health
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
Colorado developed
a coordinated system
of behavioral health
care encompassing
programs from early
intervention to crisis
care. The system includes
four pillars: prevention
and early treatment;
outpatient services; acute
intervention and inpatient;
and community-based
and residential services.
It not only invested in
comprehensive patient
care but also in robust
career pathways in mental
and behavioral health
starting with a behavioral
health technician.
The behavioral health
initiatives resulted in a
50% drop in staff turnover,
an 86% reduction in
injuries, and improved
staff utilization and team
member experience.
Overcome the awkward
LEADERS WISH THEY would take more risks, settle less, and speak up more. But that
means risking awkwardness and embarrassment. How do you take more professional
risks without feeling awkward or stuck? Seek out the " SUCK " :
Small
Find low-stakes moments to practice
on. Try a bad idea brainstorm or role play.
Cringe chasm
Seek uncomfortable conversations daily
to become conditioned to the awkward.
Uncomfortable
Express when you feel discomfort:
" I'm worried I may not get this right. "
Keep perspective
Remember we are not the first thing
on other people's minds.
26
CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS TODAY Fall 2024
Children's Hospitals Today - Fall 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Children's Hospitals Today - Fall 2024
