Dictating hospital discharge summaries! Aaarrrgh! I don't know a single doctor who enjoys this necessary evil. (For those of you who haven't had the pleasure, a discharge summary is essentially the story of someone's hospital stay.) Not only does it mean 30 minutes of dictating reports, it also means 30 minutes of cranking my neck into an unnatural position to accommodate the terrible ergonomics of the phone receiver.
Check out the protruding vein on my temple - it's pulsating with annoyance.
Well, you may say, why don't you hold the receiver in your hand and save your neck?
Like this, you mean? Great idea, but that leaves just one hand free to flip through a voluminous, poorly organized and ergonomically-obscene paper chart, to reference lab results, progress notes, etc.
It's a frustrating experience, and that leads to rushed, and possible incomplete, discharge summaries.
I always use a hands-free headset in my office - it's comfortable and convenient. Why don't they have one in the hospital medical records dictating suite? As it turns out - nobody asked for one!
A couple of months ago, I spoke to the person in charge of this area and suggested they try setting up a headset. And...
Now check out the protruding vein on my temple - it's pulsating with joy!
I have 2 hands free to flip through the chart. (Electronic charts would be better!) I'm more likely to dictate a thorough discharge summary, because I'm not frustrated by the unwieldy chart, and my neck isn't cramped.
Not only did they supply the headset: (on one phone, as a pilot - excellent plan!)
They also posted an instruction sheet and a feedback form:
What a great demonstration of how to implement a change:Address the client's need/problem.
Start with a small test of change.
Make it easy for them to try the new method.
Ask for feedback.
If you don't ask, you don't get! And it only took me 16 years to ask.
Kudos to Sherry M. for setting this up. Thank you very much!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
What's wrong with this picture? - XIV - Oh, my aching neck!
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1 comment:
As a Business Analyst with the region, I am sometimes amazed at the practices that just don't make sense. If you ask the question why, you almost certainly get the response, 'we have always done it that way', yet if you ask if anyone could make it better, you get very distinct responses (well thought out in lots of cases). People assume that they can't change the way we do things, but if we all just 'asked' the question, a lot of our processes could become more efficient. Of course you need the time and effort, but asking is the first step.
Great article!
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