Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Patient Safety, Performance, and Quality Improvement

Abstract

Background: We identified that patient safety event reporting was underutilized, so we wanted to create a pathway for better feedback while maintaining anonymity. Our goal was to develop a consistent process for identifying quality and process improvement projects and to share progress.

Methods: After many iterations, we identified and customized a secure yet widely accessible eVisual Board in Microsoft SharePoint. The eVisual Board is a single, shared, scalable platform the residents could use to contribute to, learn about, and disseminate quality and process improvement projects. The eVisual Board was installed in the resident lounge, and we held weekly huddles.

Results: Coupled with frequent short huddles, the eVisual Board improved visibility of resident and facility improvement goals. We successfully solicited many improvement ideas. We improved the communication of institutional goals by strengthening collaboration between residents and quality and process improvement project leaders.

Conclusions: This GME-driven project changed the awareness culture. We heightened resident awareness and engagement to identify quality and process improvement projects and established closer engagement with the quality department. Work still needs to be done to develop a stable standardized technical solution in SharePoint that facility shareholders reference when looking for resident involvement in quality and process improvement. We need to improve the feedback.