Unit Teams & Unit Team Leads
Through Unit-Based Deployment Teams, the Core Resource Teams were able to transfer knowledge quickly, thus shortening the cycle time for hospital-wide engagement and adoption of quality improvement initiatives. In addition, the combination of the Core Resource Teams and multiple Unit-Based Deployment Teams allows each hospital to develop its own “internal collaborative.” Such a collaborative enabled hospital units and staff to exchange peer knowledge and rapid cycle improvement strategies, thus avoiding “scratch learning” and lengthy implementation cycles.
Throughout each of these activities, INLP staff provided training, support, and tools to ensure the success of partner hospitals and teams.
Unit teams (UT), were comprised of 4-6 members per unit, and had the important role of being change makers, and creating improvement at the local level of their individual unit. UTs provided data and information to the Core Resource Team (CRT) so the CRT could provide each unit necessary resources to create local-level improvement. Additionally, UTs played a critical role in creating a culture of change within their unit - creating excitement and uptake among other nurses and physicians.
Unit Team Lead Role:
Each UT had a Unit Team Lead (UTL) who took on additional responsibilities, and helped to guide the change process. UTL responsibilities included:
Recruiting Team Members:
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Identifying 2-4 other team members to compose the Unit Team
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Orient new team members as necessary
Meetings:
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Hold bi-monthly meetings or “huddles” which included the UT Members
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Have at least 50% of the team in attendance
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Pre-schedule all meeting dates and meeting locations
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Meetings will have minutes/records
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Meetings will follow the PDSA method
Tests of Change:
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Conduct at least 2 Tests Of Change (TOC) per month. More is better.
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All TOC based on best opportunity to improve based on data
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Track and trend data in excel
Role within the Core Resource Team (CRT):
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Send all minutes, data, tests of change to the CRT within 1 week of holding meetings. (Best to establish regular calendar with the CRT.)
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Attend Expanded CRT meetings. This is required.
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Report any successes, innovations, obstacles or needed resources to the CRT at expanded CRT meetings.
