Help for our frontline team members Wellstar started a “Helping Hands” initiative to support and provide additional staff/resources to assist our patients and families. Many administrative, non-bedside nurses volunteered to return to clinical areas to perform tasks such as personal care support, passing food trays, taking vital signs and contacting families unable to visit, to provide updates on their loved ones. Keeping our team safe with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) During this challenging time, Wellstar has worked hard to ensure our teammembers have essential PPE to protect against COVID-19. Wellstar Supply Chain leadership has taken a number of actions, including an accelerated process for evaluation of new PPE items. As well, the System has established direct relationships with manufacturers to purchase PPE, removing a layer in the process and reducing the potential for counterfeit products. And we have addressed nationwide supply shortages to take pre-emptive action, such as purchasing critical materials in demand to protect patients, visitors and team members. Due to proactive measures, Wellstar has not experienced a shortage of PPE. Our team members have always had access to the equipment needed to protect themselves, colleagues, families and patients.
Safety Skills Team members routinely practice what we call our Safety First Relationship and Reliability Skills to reduce error and improve communication to keep ourselves and our patients safe. These evidence-based practices address the challenges of communicating effectively while wearing a mask or face covering: ● Speak up when more information is needed or if you feel something is unsafe. ● Ask clarifying questions when information is incomplete or vague. ● Work together by cross-monitoring team members to point out high-risk situations. ● Read back and repeat back to validate and verify critical information. ● Self-check using the STAR process: S top, T hink, A ct and R eview to help us focus and pay attention to detail. ● A strong safety culture that encourages open communication of concerns and unsafe conditions for timely correction and improvement.
15 | 2019–2020 COMMUNITY REPORT
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs