In 2017, Lea Albright, Hospitalist Program Manager, needed to impact physician communication and discharge instruction HCAHPS scores. With limited practice by private physicians, the activities of the hospitalists were driving the data. A lack of provider specific patient comments from HCAHPS scores limited buy-in by physician leaders to enforce needed behavior changes to improve communication. 

National Nurses Week is May 6th - 12th and the theme this year is “Nurses: Inspire, Innovate, Influence.” National Nurses Week ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s Birthday (1820-1910). She was the founder of modern nursing. She served as a manager of nurses during the Crimean War and was known as the "Lady with the Lamp" while making rounds to wounded soldiers at night. We want to celebrate nurses this week with the following list of freebies and discounts:

Headlining today is the highest rate of flu hospitalizations in 15 years; including, an alarming number of deaths in children with the flu of whom only 20% received the vaccine. Hospitals are responding with innovative surge plans that include tents, mobile clinics and drive-up flu shot stations. This is a national outbreak, already claiming more lives than the deadliest gun-related incidents and weather-related disasters.

It’s a new year and the perfect time to start implementing new tactics to increase employee satisfaction and retention. Vicki Hess, author and Top 5 Healthcare Speaker, shares 18 simple things to do to improve employee engagement in your organization:

This past month, I conducted onsite mock appraiser visits with four re-designating ANCC Magnet Program™ hospitals. These facilities are among the best in the nation, and I was overcome by the excellent outcomes and innovations in care that were evident. I was also amazed at the extra work expected from unit-level nursing managers in these outstanding facilities.