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Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to identify a new innovative way to increase communication in the interdisciplinary team.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to empower staff to create an environment fostered around the patient will increasing safety.
Title: Can a Photo Create a Thousand Words?
Objective: Increase communication with Multidisciplinary team on a busy 28 bed surgical floor caring for five major services and multiple overflow services.
Innovation: Photos of each nurse were placed outside of their individual patient rooms with the ASCOM phone number on it. ASCOM phones are a primary source of communication for the nursing staff at our facility. These photos were placed as a means of overcoming simple barriers of communication such as not knowing someone’s name or not knowing what someone looks like. The photos are intended to be a bridge to communication allowing all members of the healthcare team a more rapid form of communication allowing more time with the patient. Since the induction of the photos we have seen a decrease in falls, falls with injury, hospital acquired pressure ulcers, and an increase in pain management scores as well as patient satisfaction scores.
Kevin M. Shimp MSN, RN, CCRN, CNML
Nurse Manager
Acute Care Surgery
MCV Campus
Critical Care Hospital, 7th Floor
1213 East Clay Street
P.O. Box 985875
Richmond, Virginia 23298-5875
804-828-1684
kshimp@mcvh-vcu.edu