Authors (including presenting author) :
Tse KYG(1), Au W(1), Chan CSS(1), Chan PYP(1), Chan SY(1), Chau WL(1), Fong HC(1), Ho YKE(1), Hon HS(1), Kam MY(1), Lee SF(1), Lei PO(1), Luen KW(1), Mok KW(1), Siu ML(1), Szeto TL(1), Wong TF(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals, Hong Kong
Introduction :
4 years ago, the COVID-19 virus turned the world upside down, indelibly changing our lives and the world. Social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic forced people to use teleconferencing platforms to fulfill social or work-related needs. In response, a daily teleconference on COVID-19 updates was launched in 2022 to facilitate effective communication, rapid clinical management, decision-making, and coordination of healthcare personnel. As the pandemic situation improved, this daily teleconference was adapted from February 2023 onwards to serve as an ongoing communication and collaboration platform for nurse managers.
Objectives :
SAFE2
1. Save time and increase work flexibility compared with in-person meetings
2. Activate rapid response to service demand surge and enhance patient care
3. Facilitate rapid response to clinical incidents and risks
4. Enhance communication, provide clear direction, and decrease staff uncertainty
5. Encourage discussion, foster the sharing of experience, ideas and best practices among nurse managers
Methodology :
The daily teleconference was held at 4:00 pm, with nurse managers taking turns as the convener to develop their critical thinking, communication, and management skills. Nurse managers would report on ward situations, clinical issues, and challenges. Associated Nurse Consultants, quality and safety workgroup members, and Department Operations Manager would provide updates, response to clinical incidents, recommendations, and discuss relevant metrics.
Result & Outcome :
A questionnaire completed by participants revealed overwhelmingly positive feedback, with 93.3% agreeing or strongly agreeing that the daily teleconference improved various aspects, including sharing good practices, enhancing decision-making and nursing management skills, promoting staff development and empowerment, facilitating early risk identification, enhancing risk management effectiveness, promoting quality and safety of patient care, increasing communication effectiveness and productivity, and facilitating team collaboration and unity.
The daily teleconference proved to be an interactive platform that achieved its objectives, leading to positive impacts on patient safety, team engagement, and continuous quality improvement. This teleconference model allowed the healthcare organization to rapidly respond to service demand surges and improve overall standards of care.
Public Health Implications:
The teleconference meeting model enabled the healthcare organization to rapidly respond to service demand surges, improving patient safety, enhancing communication, coordination, and rapid response to clinical risks, and supporting quality improvement initiatives.
