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Palliative care: rapid redesign to support systemwide quality improvement
Mary Beth Thomas1, Carroll Quinn
1Ernst & Young, LLP, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. marybeth.thomas@ey.com
Summary
Implementing large-scale change and rapid redesign improved end-of-life care quality. Palliative care programs were enhanced, leading to a 100% increase in hospice length of stay systemwide.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Palliative Care
- Quality Improvement
Background:
- Improving end-of-life care quality is crucial in multihospital systems.
- Palliative care programs require adaptable strategies to meet diverse community needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance the quality of care for patients at the end of life.
- To implement systemwide palliative care improvements using large-scale change techniques.
Main Methods:
- Utilized large-scale change techniques and rapid redesign methodologies.
- Convened a systemwide symposium with key stakeholders to define palliative care vision and criteria.
- Developed flexible design tools for regional adaptation.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in the quality of end-of-life care were achieved.
- Hospice length of stay across the system improved by 100% within one year post-symposium.
Conclusions:
- A collaborative, adaptable approach effectively enhances palliative care quality.
- Systemwide initiatives combined with regional flexibility yield substantial improvements in end-of-life care outcomes.