The white paper presented by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) encourages healthcare organizations and providers to spread new ideas and innovations rapidly. Such an evidence-based practice is capable of closing the current gap between common medical care and best practice. This paper describes how my current institution has successfully introduced and spread an innovative idea.
In my workplace setting, health leaders and policymakers focus on the most appropriate novelty ideas to support the health needs of all patients. One of the outstanding examples is that of redesigning the pediatric intensive care unit to allow mothers to sleep with their babies in the same room (Joshi, Ransom, Nash, & Ransom, 2014). This is an idea that many medical institutions have failed to appreciate. Such an innovative strategy is informed by the concept of quality improvement (QI). This means that a holistic care delivery model is available to many babies. The mother or guardian of every child in need of emergency medical support becomes part of the treatment process.
Breastfed babies will get enough milk throughout the treatment period. This initiative can become a powerful model that other health institutions can emulate. This is the case since the hospital has identified new ways of addressing emerging issues and maximizing the medical outcomes of all the targeted beneficiaries (Joshi et al., 2014). New areas that require continuous improvement are identified to revolutionize care delivery processes.
The selected example has supported the power of innovation to improve patients’ health outcomes. Since underage children are incapable of making appropriate decisions, the presence of their mothers in the ICU is a new opportunity for improving care delivery and minimizing sentinel events. This practice is capable of transforming the United States’ medical sector.
Reference
Joshi, M., Ransom, E. R., Nash, D. B., & Ransom, S. B. (2014). The healthcare quality book: Vision, strategy, and tools (3rd ed.). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.