Balancing Measurements to Achieve Improvements through TCAB

Publication Date: September 2008

Publisher: Seton Family of Hospitals, Austin, TX; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Author(s): J. Batcheller

Research Area: Health

Type: White Paper

Abstract:

This papers presents an overview of the Transforming Care at the Bedside (TCAB) initiative in Seton Northwest, a hospital member of Seton Family of Hospitals in Austin, Texas.

The goal of TCAB was to develop ideal care delivery models (redesign) for hospital medical surgical units. Through TCAB, nurses who provide direct patient care lead the charge to discover and test ideas that will improve patient safety and efficiency of care.

At Seton Northwest, the author states that "aligning and connecting the work of TCAB to the overall strategy and goals of our hospital system have been important and beneficial." Some results from implementing TCAB that were identified by staff included: improvements in overall patient satisfaction scores and decreased turnover rates by TCAB units. Seton's experience demonstrates that their nursing staff takes pride and ownership in the care they provide to their patients.