Updated
May 24, 2007 at 02:23 PM by NRSKarenRN
With so much care being delivered in hospital medical/surgical units, and with an estimated 35 to 40 percent of unexpected hospital deaths occurring on such units, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and IHI agreed to work together to create, test, and implement changes that will dramatically improve care on medical/surgical units, and improve staff satisfaction as well.
In 2003, through an initiative called
Transforming Care at the Bedside (TCAB), RWJF and IHI created a
framework for change on medical/surgical units built around improvements in four main categories:
- Safe and Reliable Care
- Vitality and Teamwork
- Patient-Centered Care
- Value-Added Care Processes
In 13 pilot hospitals, change ideas within each category are being tested, refined, and implemented, many with very promising early results. Examples include the following:
- Use of Rapid Response Teams to “rescue” patients before a crisis occurs
- Specific communication models that support consistent and clear communication among caregivers
- Professional support programs such as preceptorships and educational opportunities
- Liberalized diet plans and meal schedules for patients
- Redesigned workspace that enhances efficiency and reduces waste
http://www.ihi.org/IHI/Programs/Stra...TheBedside.htm Fourteen new partnerships announced for Transforming Care at the Bedside 
Transforming Care at the Bedside, a collaborative effort of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and 13 U.S. hospitals across the country has been featured in previous articles published in
Reflections on Nursing Leadership (“Coming: To a hospital near you,”
Fourth Qtr. 2005, and “Putting nurses in the driver’s seat,”
Second Qtr. 2006).
Now, 14 new strategic partnerships between schools of nursing and major regional hospitals throughout the United States have been announced for the program. The partnerships will help future nurses learn how to identify opportunities for quality improvements that could enhance patient care, and teach them how to advocate for their implementation. Nursing students will work with TCAB teams at their partner hospitals to identify where change is needed, recommend and test potential solutions and determine if the innovations should be implemented. In so doing, the program provides a vital link between the classroom and the medical-surgical units in hospitals by helping nursing students understand how the time they spend working directly with patients affects the quality of care patients receive.
http://nursingsociety.org/RNL/Curren..._capsules.html 
Transforming Care at the Bedside
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