The implementation of quality improvement (QI) methods remains a critical issue in the healthcare field. Twenty years ago, the Institute of Medicine proposed its six-component STEEEP framework that orders organizations to provide safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient-centered care (Fallon et al., 2013). This paper aims to research the John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and how it implements the elements of the STEEEP model.
The principles of safety, timeliness, and effectiveness are emphasized in the organization’s strategy. The hospital employs safety specialists and managers and operates quality and safety committees that oversee pediatric services, surgical services, and infection control (The John Hopkins Hospital, 2020). Regarding timely care and the prevention of delays, the organization has established strict waiting time standards for particular services and reviews them regularly (The JHH, 2020). Notably, patient and family advisory councils also participate in the re-evaluation of these standards (The JHH, 2020). Next, in terms of effectiveness, the selected organization is a well-known advocate for EBP use in nursing. The organization has proposed the John Hopkins Nursing EBP model and a three-stage clinical decision-making process for nurses (John Hopkins Medicine, n.d.). It consists of the stages of question development, evidence-gathering, and translation and is implemented by the facility’s practicing nurses.
Efficiency, equity, and patient-centeredness also inform the organization’s service provision activities. The JHH established the Lean Sigma team more than ten years ago to design waste reduction initiatives and explore Lean’s and Six Sigma’s potential for the healthcare field (Winner, n.d.). As of now, the hospital employs a number of qualified Lean Six Sigma Green Belts and implements projects based on rapid-cycle improvement (Winner, n.d.). Next, patient equity and unbiased attitudes to healthcare consumers are promoted through using the Health Equity Committee and inclusion/diversity training for employees (The JHH, 2020). Measures to foster care providers’ understanding of diversity also support client-centeredness by teaching clinical teams to respect patients’ preferences and claimed identities (The JHH, 2020). Therefore, all components of the model find use in the JHH’s activities.
References
Fallon, L. F., Begun, J. W., & Riley, W. (2013). Managing health organizations for quality and performance. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
The John Hopkins Hospital. Patient and family advisory councils: Annual report 2020. Web.
John Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Center for Evidence-Based Practice: The John Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice model. Web.
Winner, L. (n.d.). Lean and Six Sigma training. Web.