Shock Trauma Patient Practice Model
Professional Practice is the mechanism by which professionals within an organization set and monitor standards and professional activities of members, and manage professional business. The purpose of the professional practice structure for Patient Care Services is to:
- Provide the structure with which to develop, implement and communicate organizational changes;
- Assure staff nurse representation in decisions affecting clinical practice; and
- Facilitate communication and consistency in programs across the different divisions and units within Patient Care Services.
The following Councils meet on a regular basis and serve as the core structure: Executive, Clinical Practice, Education and Prevention, Quality Management, Rewards and Recognition Councils and the Patient Family Education Improvement Team. The STC Professional Practice Model links itself to the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) through representation on the UMMS Nursing Board and various other committee structures. Here is an overview of the council groups. All units have staff representation on these councils.
Executive Council
Purpose
The Executive Council is a representational body which meets monthly to discuss and recommend action to the STC Director of Patient Care Services on issues affecting professional nursing practice at the STC. It is the primary vehicle for assuring staff nurse participation and involvement with departmental decisions affecting clinical practice.
The membership of the Nursing Executive Council includes staff nurse members-at-large representing every clinical area, chairs of the four nursing councils, Director of Patient Care Services, Nurse Managers, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Clinical Specialist for Quality, one Nursing Coordinator and the Trauma Nurse Coordinator.
Clinical Practice Council
Purpose
- The Clinical Practice Council drives the direction of clinical practice in the STC. They solicit staff input into the process of defining standards, models and approaches for clinical practice and care delivery. One major focus area is to brainstorm, prioritize and implement actions to improve problem clinical areas. All councils will have a role in making improvements as appropriate.
Education Council
Purpose
- The Education and Council identifies and coordinates educational and prevention needs and supports professional development for the STC Department of Patient Care Services. One major focus is planning, implementing and evaluation the STC annual Competency Marathon.
Quality Management Council
Purpose
The Quality Management Council focuses on monitoring clinical practice, coordinates continuous quality improvement strategies, and coordinates monitoring activities identified through other councils. One major area of focus is working to improve discharge teaching.
Rewards and Recognition Council
Purpose
The Rewards and Recognition Council is an interdisciplinary group that seeks to promote team spirit and clinical excellence within the Shock Trauma Center Team. A major goal is to foster an environment where all employees feel supported, valued and personally vested in their individual roles and the overall goal of delivering excellent service and quality care to the citizens of Maryland. Major focus area include the "You Were a Livesaver" program, the Trauma Line newsletter, "The Taste of Trauma" cookbook, standardizing new employee information.
Patient Family Education Improvement Team
Purpose
To improve patient family education material at the Shock Trauma Center including access, format, content and readability. Specific focus will be on improving the computer usage, resource links and patient distribution. Major focus areas include:
- Catalogue, review/revise current patient family handout
- Create new handouts for educational gaps
- Establish and conduct an interdisciplinary review process for educational handouts
- Support the use of the Interdisciplinary Patient Family Education Documentation Summary Form
- Create and maintain computerized web page for patient family education handouts