| AORN Congress 2011 Freedom to Be…….. AORN Congress Session Summary Patient Safety: Making Progress By Regina Griffin As Dr. Leape was discussing the Healthcare shift from one-on-one care to a collaborative team approach as it pertains to patient safety, I reflected on how nurses have always been focusing on evidence based practices to define our profession. He discussed how we can contribute to the progress of Patient Safety. Healthcare is changing, technology is changing/advancing, we as healthcare professionals need to keep current. There continues to be data and research that supports advancements in practice. We need to embrace the research to assist us in updating policies, procedures, processes, and our “old way of thinking” behavior. Dr. Leape also discussed how healthcare professionals are accountable to our patients and society; we need to keep patient safety at the forefront. Keeping current with research and data will accomplish that. Transparency of patient outcomes is mandated now, and organizations have an obligation to disclose the results. Patient Engagement was another area where Dr. Leape expressed the desire to reach safe patient care. The trend is to include our patients in their plan of care. Not only is this concept important for the patient, but also important to the interdisciplinary team caring for the patient. The involvement of the patient and family gives them the right tools to will assist in their healing process. As the ultimate goal is efficiency and effective care to produce positive outcomes that meet the regulatory standards. Some examples of including patients in their plan of care and reaching the goal is 100,000 Lives Campaign, Getting to Zero, WHO Safety Check List, and HCAHPS. He emphasized how each team must focus on Respect, Support and Appreciation for each other. These three aspects are extremely important to achieve the communication we need to protect our patients. He also discussed how it is each individual’s accountability leads to proper communication and patient safety. “Safety is about relationships” he stated, “mutual respect and teamwork.” He gave an example of US Airways and how each individual crew member took responsibility to ensure the safety of the passengers during the crash in the Hudson River. Coming together as a group for a common purpose-safety-is powerful. Again, going back to the accountability to our patients (customers) and society. We need to develop a culture of respect. Most errors are caused because people do not feel comfortable addressing someone else, or someone in authority (the physician/surgeon). Most of these errors are not caused by bad people, but bad processes. Dr. Leape expressed the need to reform Medical Education to involve respect, communication, and safety. In his closing, Dr. Leape talked about the idea of inter-professional teams needing to focus on communication, respect, awareness of how we talk to each other and the impact that this has on our patient’s experience= Patient Safety. |
| “If You Can’t Stand Up, Stand Out” By Mike Schlappi What would I do if I got shot in the abdomen and became a paraplegic at age 15; I probably would not have accepted the change as well as Mike did. Mike was accidentally shot by one of his close friends while hanging out at their house. He was a star athlete, anxiously awaiting getting his driver’s license, and thinking about the next game or night out. Mike was known as “Happy” Schlappi by his family, and he realized as we was recovering he would need to get his laughter back. He played a joke on one of his nurses’ with a cherry slushy (that his grandma brought him) and this did the trick. During the next 5 months in rehab before heading home, he realized he would have to accept change and to find happiness again. One morning, while making pancakes with his mom, she said to him” if you can’t stand up, stand out”. This has been his motto ever since, his father also told him he could still be an athlete just in a different way. He has been in training ever since, for marathons, basketball, water skiing, and even repelling. He has gone on to play on 4 Olympic Basketball teams, bringing home 2 gold and 2 bronze medals. He went on to put 2 of his medals on but said the other metal he wears is what gives him his strength. This metal is the bullet they took out of his spine. The bullet has given him the ability to overcome challenges and accomplish goals he sets for himself. I may not wear a bullet but realized I have to find the strength and perseverance to reach my goals, realizing that these goals may not come easily or as quickly as I would like. Mike’s talk was thought provoking but he made it humorous throughout. Having a sense of humor is critical to overcoming some obstacles but it sure seems to help with making your attitude positive. I have to take more time to laugh at myself because sometimes I really do some crazy things. Mike has gone on to marry a wonderful woman, have 5 children, compete in a marathon, repel down a mountain (with the help of the boy scouts), water ski, work on his family farm, and takes time for relaxing by camping and fishing. He did say he picked a career in motivational speaking because it is one of the top 5 high paid careers right after nursing!! His talk was a wonderful way to end Congress. I learned new ideas at Congress and his talk inspired me to meet the challenges and embrace the changes, because I never know where it might take me. Healthcare is full of change and challenges at the moment, I may not like them all but I have to be willingly to try. He ended his talk with a wonderful tribute to the flag, he spoke to us as if he was the flag and what the flag would say to us, it was very poignant and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room. I enjoyed serving as one of the chapter delegates this year, thank you for the opportunity. Laurie Gronowski RN, BSN, CNOR |