Institute for Healthcare Improvement studied successful organizations' efforts to sustain improvement and provides four key ways for organizations to introduce new standard work processes for staff members, according to Harvard Business Review.
1. Test the processes out on a small scale. Before implementing the new standard work process, test it out on a single pilot unit, or "model cell." When selecting a pilot unit, look for key characteristics including stability, goal alignment, hygiene management and an engaged staff.
2. Have your frontline clinical leader be the daily operations manager. Rather than choosing an administrative manager, the patient care director or unit supervisor as the frontline manager, choose a leader who is charged with the unit's daily operations. Often, organizations found charge nurses have successfully fulfilled this position. Charge nurses can follow the standard process, monitor patients' care and made adjustments when necessary.
3. Establish short term goals. Have your managers set short term goals and track progress along the way. Don't make the mistake of setting complex goals in a program's early stages.
4. Uncover what obstacles your frontline clinical managers face. Find out what motivates your frontline managers and what may be impeding their progress.