TOC
Timely Open Communication for Patient Safety (TOC) Project
The Timely Open Communication for Patient Safety (TOC) project will facilitate patient safety through improved IP communication by developing resources for caregivers and patients and their families to help reduce the number and magnitude of patient safety incidents at two critical times: admission to an institution and discharge. For example, on admission it is imperative to collect all relevant data including an accurate medical and medication history in order to make sure management continues appropriately. Patients may have incomplete health and medication histories taken which can result in inappropriate care, are more at risk for falls being in an unfamiliar place, and malnutrition due to eating different food or reduced intake. On discharge patients need to understand their ongoing treatment plan and have adequate community supports. TOC will use the Collaborative Learning Units (CLUs) already established in 3 different institutional settings and add a 4th setting in a new institution. Over the 15 months of TOC, the four different CLUs will work with the research team to identify key educational opportunities, and develop tools and processes to enhance their ability to work collaboratively with a focus on communication and patient safety. Resources will be developed with patients and their families to enhance knowledge of patient safety and facilitate participation in their care.
OBJECTIVES:
- To strengthen the existing 3 CLUs and establish an additional CLU.
- To identify issues of patient safety at admission and on discharge within each CLU.
- To enhance effective communication practices between caregivers in accordance with patient safety competencies
- To characterize effective communication practices between caregivers, patients/families as related to patient safety issues
- To develop educational resources, processes and tools for caregivers and patients/families to promote effective communication practices in relation to the patient safety issues
OUTCOMES
- The instutionalization of CLUs across four different healthcare settings
- In each CLU, the development of at least one new educational resource, process or tool for caregivers and one resource for patients/family that focus on effective communication as related to issues of patient safety on admission, and at discharge
- Enhanced communication between caregivers particularly as related to patient safety issues
- Enhanced communication between caregivers and patients/families particularly as related to patient safety issues
- Enhanced communication between institutional caregivers and community caregivers/agencies
- More complete and comprehensive patient care plans particularly as related to patient safety issues
- Reduction in number and magnitude of patient safety incidents at admission and discharge including safer transitions in care related to enhanced communication between community and institution
- Improved caregiver competency with respect to effective team communication
- Improved caregiver knowledge with respect to patient safety issues
10. Increased caregiver satisfaction with their care provision
11. Improved communication with patients/families with respect to patient safety issues
12. Improved patient/family knowledge with respect to patient safety issues
13. Increased patient satisfaction and participation with their care provision
TOC Project Principal Investigators: Dr. Margo Paterson, Lead
Drs. Jenny Medves, Elaine van Melle, Cori Schroder, Lewis Tomalty and David Goldstein.
TOC Project Manager: Anne O’Riordan
Kingston General Hospital Clinical Site Coordinators: Rosalind Forster & Sherrie McKegney
Providence Care – St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital Site Coordinator: Leslie Saunders
Providence Care – Mental Health Services Site Coordinator: Ingela Marlin
Lennox & Addington County General Hospital Site Coordinator: TBA
