[Expert Solution]: Interprofessional Performance Improvement…

Interprofessional Performance Improvement Project to Improve Emergency Department Triage Process and respond to each of the questions as the nurse leader of this change project team. Interprofessional Performance Improvement Project to Improve Emergency Department Triage Process An interprofessional team of six members was formed to lead a performance improvement project to decrease the triage time in the emergency department (ED) of a 250-bed hospital. The team membership included: one physician, a representative from the admission department, information technology, and medical records, a pharmacist, a staff nurse from the ED, and the ED nurse manager who was team leader. The ED nurse manager identified the problem and formed the team. At the team’s first meeting some of the members agreed that there was a problem and two members wondered about the need for change at this time. The team consulted with ED staff members on one occasion – at a staff meeting – and meeting attendance was low. During this meeting, staff members were informed that there was a problem with the ED triage process and it must be corrected quickly. At the meeting, two staff members were angry about the planned changes and complained about workload and staffing levels. No other staff members spoke up at the meeting, but afterward it was reported that others felt that this effort was about reducing staff and wondered if the triage delays were related to increased volumes of patients coming in due to winter and flu season. A week after the staff meeting the team asked for data about the number of patients triaged during the past year and the number of admissions to the hospital. They also reviewed the current triage policy and procedures. After this, the team felt it was ready to create a plan for change. They modified the triage policy and procedure with the goal of reducing wait time for patients. The ED staff was informed of these changes and that they would be implemented in three weeks in order to orient nurses. All ED staff were informed of the project changes through a memo posted on the ED bulletin board and an announcement at an ED staff meeting. The staff meeting was held during a very busy time in the ED, therefore attendance at this meeting was poor and few staff members came in during their scheduled day off, although staff members receive pay for attending meetings when they are not scheduled to work. The orientation to the new policy and procedure was provided to most staff as a read and sign education process. The team collected data for 15 days over a 2-month period. The data indicated that patients waited 10 minutes less than in the past. The team received five complaints from staff. The team met and decided that the performance improvement plan was successful and reported their findings to senior executives.