For children who have experienced loss

Providing a strong support system is a pivotal first step in helping others through the grieving process. When children need guidance through this process, an even more delicate approach is needed. Oftentimes regardless of loss, children feel confused and unsure about how to express themselves.

The YMCA of Greater Kansas City and Saint Luke's Home Care and Hospice are offering a special two-day camp, June 12-13 at Camp Naish, to teach children how to express themselves in dealing with loss. This camp is focused on children from 6-14 years of age. The grief camp is designed for kids who've experienced a loss or change, such as a death of a loved one, a divorce in the family, moving, the death of a pet, losing a home, a serious illness in the family, or changing schools. Through a combination of therapeutic and fun activities, the children will be able to move forward, knowing they're not alone.

The cost to attend both days is $50. There is a $10 sibling discount. Scholarships are available upon request. Click here to learn more about the camp and to sign up.  

Patient safety updates

As the IMPACT Falls PI Team began looking at patient falls, one of the first things we needed to learn was "what is a fall?" SLH benchmarks falls with the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI). NDNQI defines a fall as the unplanned descent to a lower plane with or without injury to the patient - including assisted falls. That's pretty specific! Magnet designation requires we benchmark using one of a handful of databases and the majority of Magnet hospitals, like SLH, utilize NDNQI.

The first action of the IMPACT Team was to implement weekly fall review meetings beginning in April. Every fall that occurs during the previous week involving an inpatient is presented by the unit's CNM in the weekly meeting and discussed among unit staff, directors, managers, quality staff, and Debbie White, CNO. Managers and staff from non-nursing units who are involved in a fall are also asked to join the meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to identify causes of the falls, suggest solutions, and learn from each other. We are just getting started, but we have already identified a number of action items that will help prevent future falls. Managers are sharing the lessons learned with staff and implementing the action items. Thanks to everyone who has participated!

April showed a decrease in the number of falls. The team would like to recognize CICU, EA5, EA9, NE5, L&D, MICU, NSICU, SICC, & Transplant units for having a fall-free April. Great job! Extra kudos to CICU for currently holding the record of 190 days (at the time of writing) without a fall!

April was also a good month for sample labeling. Congratulations to CICU, CVOR, EA2, EA3, EA4, EA5, EA7, EA8, L&D, Lab Support, Main 5, MICC, NE5, NICU, NSICU, PACU, Pre-Op, Radiology, SICC, Surgery, and Transplant for having no labeling errors in April! 

Neuro-Oncology Clinic open house

In honor of Brain Tumor Awareness month, please join us Thursday, May 24, from 2 - 4 p.m. for refreshments, a tour of our recently redesigned space, and to learn about the cutting-edge brain tumor treatments and research trials we have available. Also, meet Michael Salacz, M.D., Kansas City's only fellowship-trained neuro-oncologist, as well as our clinic staff. We are located at 4400 Broadway, Suite 530. Exit the elevator to your right and we're located in the back corner.

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Medication Safety Corner

Patient stickers on all patient orders

At the monthly Medication Safety Team meeting a patient safety issue involving admission and transfer medication reconciliation was identified. The error originated from the patient's medication reconciliation NOT having the patient barcoded label affixed to the order.

There were several breakdowns in the medication ordering and administering process. Fortunately, the origin of the problem can be corrected by using patient barcoded labels on every order that is scanned into MedcommRx, including medication reconciliations and eICU orders. The MedcommRx scanners were implemented to reduce patient ID errors by automatically linking the drug order to the patient in the pharmacy order entry system. When the patient barcoded stickers are not placed on admission/transfer medication reconciliations and eICU orders, the automated component of the process is lost. As a result, a manual step is introduced to the process which increases the chances of a patient ID error occurring.

Over the next month the Medication Safety Team will be educating each nursing unit regarding the importance of placing patient barcoded labels on every order. The team will monitor the number of medication reconciliations that are scanned to pharmacy without patient barcoded labels and follow up with those nursing units. After this initial one-month phase, the Pharmacy Department will no longer process orders that do not have patient barcoded stickers on the medication reconciliation or any other drug order.

Thank you for your assistance with improving the safety of our patients at Saint Luke's Hospital. If you have any questions please contact Beth Lee or Mark Hamm.

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