Deploying an improvement strategy across a rapidly expanding health system: A framework for repeatability and cost-effectiveness

Abstract

With nearly 40,000 employees and physicians spread across 14 states, a robust system was needed to engage front line teams at the point of care to meaningfully enhance patient and family communication practices in Prime Healthcare, an award-winning, community hospital system with 45 hospitals. Among its key elements, Prime's system-wide road map for deploying relationship-centered communication tools involved identification of and investment in frontline champions, education that was synchronized with leader-deployed digital rounding, and online self-reflection modules that promoted true behavior change. This economical and easy-to-follow road map is shared for others seeking a high return on investment from their patient experience efforts. © The Author(s), 2020.