The Transforming Power of Patient Advisors.

Vidant Health, a private, not-for-profit health system in Eastern North Carolina, began a system-wide quality transformation in 2006. A key strategy in the transformation was increasing the engagement of patients and families, including the establishment of Patient Family Advisory Councils. Meaningful partnerships with patients and families accelerated improvement efforts and sustained performance excellence over time.

The Vidant Health quality transformation.

Background: Vidant Health (VH), a private, not-for-profit health system in eastern North Carolina, began a systemwide quality transformation in 2006 after a serious blood event resulted in a patient's death.

Methods: Systemwide patient safety training served as the foundation of the transformation. Strategic planning of the quality work outlined a series of approaches that included board literacy in quality, an aggressive transparency policy, patient-family partnerships, and leader and physician engagement.

The front line of patient safety: staff nurses and rapid response team calls.

Background: In response to growing concerns about patient safety, many hospitals are implementing rapid response teams (RRTs). Although the staff nurse plays a critical role in recognizing the need for the RRT and initiating the call, little is known about actions of staff nurses in relation to the RRT.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between nurse educational preparation, years of experience, degree of engagement, and the RRT call status (independent vs dependent).

Confronting disparities in diabetes care: the clinical effectiveness of redesigning care management for minority patients in rural primary care practices.

Context: Diabetes mellitus and its complications disproportionately affect minority citizens in rural communities, many of whom have limited access to comprehensive diabetes management services.

Purpose: To explore the efficacy of combining care management and interdisciplinary group visits for rural African American patients with diabetes mellitus.

Methods: In the intervention practice, an advanced practice nurse visited the practice weekly for 12 months and facilitated diabetes education, patient flow, and management.