Careful and efficient planning in the OR is essential to high quality and safe outcomes
Changing the framing of information so a choice appears desirable can influence decisions in predictable ways. Message framing has relevance for OR compliance, as the framing of compliance of OR staff has been largely left to draconian and hierarchical tactics.
Strategically utilizing behavioral influence soundly modified safety and quality standards in an operating room environment in and eastern US health system collaborating with IONIA. Knowing that people largely underestimate the role others play in influencing their choices; we employed strategic tools of social influence to create an internal motivation of change rather than external motivation (as has been traditional, punishment based influence interventions).
When simple, consistent message containing the right messages are directed towards subjects in a closed social system (like an OR), the messaging has a powerful and effective influence on others.
With a staff which was not consistently engaging in proper safety and quality processes, IONIA implemented a system to modify the behavior without draconian tactics. The results were dramatic.
Over a 90-day period, observations of each surgical specialty were made while a communication and behaviorally focused intervention strategy was developed with the help of surgeons, nurses, and anesthesia. Each week, at each huddle for nurses and anesthesia, the plan was reiterated and observations continued.
Conclusion? All surgical departments exhibited 100% compliance by August 2017; the effective implementation strategy modified behaviors using a simple, consistent intervention.
Importantly, further extensions of the approach can be applied to protocols throughout family practice and pediatrics, policies for ACO success, and any other department in which established quality and safety benchmarks can be improved.