In an era of rapid healthcare transformation, forward-thinking Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs) and Chief Nursing Executives (CNEs) are leveraging Command Centers to redefine patient care. These centers, equipped with real-time data, are evolving into intelligent operations hubs that streamline daily workflows and empower innovative care delivery models.
Amanda Kotler is a business leader and the Chief Nursing Officer at Asante, harnessing real-time data and insights to navigate the dynamic healthcare landscape, making informed decisions that steer the organization toward sustainable growth.
10 Key Takeaways:
- Empowering Hybrid Care Models: CNOs and CNEs employ Command Centers to drive hybrid care models, optimizing daily operations and pioneering virtual nursing initiatives.
- Integration with Frontline Operations: The true potential of Command Centers is unlocked when integrated seamlessly with frontline operations. They alleviate administrative burdens, ensuring that healthcare professionals can focus on delivering exceptional patient care.
- Strategic Leadership: Command Centers are transforming CNOs into strategic business leaders. With access to real-time data and insights, CNOs are better equipped to navigate the dynamic healthcare landscape, making decisions that align with patient needs and organizational goals.
- Collaboration with Peers: The success of Command Centers hinges on effective collaboration. Lessons learned underscore the importance of working closely with the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and other key stakeholders to ensure seamless integration and functionality.
- Senior Leadership Buy-In: The commitment and support from senior leadership, especially the CEO and operations executives, are crucial for the success of Command Centers. A shared vision and understanding of the value created by these centers foster greater team buy-in. Emphasizing the multidisciplinary nature of Command Centers, it's essential to move beyond departmental silos and embrace a collaborative approach.
- Design First: Embracing a "design-first" methodology, they prioritize the needs and insights of frontline staff. The partnership between Asante and Edgility exemplifies the power of combining technological innovation with a deep understanding of clinical operations.
- Expanding the Nursing Executives' Role: Nursing executives are increasingly viewing themselves as essential business partners, not just care providers. They drive better healthcare outcomes by aligning with the broader business goals. Nursing executives that bring a clear vision and strategy for their command center see improved performance measures with tangible ROI.
- "Victims to Patient Flow": Nursing leadership acknowledge feelings of helplessness and lack of control that healthcare professionals often experience due to inefficiencies and challenges in care coordination. This sentiment underscores the strain and burden placed on clinicians when systemic issues in patient throughput and flow lead to operational challenges that compromise patient care. Command Centers obviate the feelings of helplessness.
- Beyond Efficiency: Patient flow and throughput extend beyond efficiency and bed planning. The pandemic underscored the importance of system-wide bed planning and illuminated the broader potential of Command Centers. These centers adopt an "air traffic control" approach to patient care and flow, emphasizing the need for advanced technology for situational awareness and process improvements. It's clear that more than technology is needed; a deep understanding of operations management within healthcare systems and nursing is crucial to harness the power of Command Centers.
- Looking Ahead: The future of Command Centers is promising. They can extend beyond current challenges and pave the way for virtual nursing, interdisciplinary collaborations, and more.
Join the conversation and explore how Command Centers, under the leadership of CNOs and CNEs, are shaping the future of healthcare.