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Involve physicians in H&P form development

Briefings on The Joint Commission, July 1, 2005

This is an excerpt from a member only article. To read the article in its entirety, please login or subscribe to Briefings on The Joint Commission.

Buy-in leads to 'ownership' and easier implementation

Learning objectives: After reading this article, you will be able to

1. explain the importance of involving physicians in the process of revising and implementing history and physical (H&P) forms

2. describe ways to educate staff about implementing a new H&P form

Physician involvement in the development of your hospital's H&P form may mean less resistance to its implementation, particularly in light of the JCAHO's strict H&P update rule.

Because physicians were involved in the process at Garden Grove (CA) Hospital and Medical Center, they felt ownership, says Karen Gulbenkian, RN, BSN, MBA, vice president of operations.

Their involvement also reinforced the JCAHO's H&P standards, encouraged staff to embrace using the new form, and meant physicians took the lead in promoting its implementation.

"We said, 'Help us,' and they did," Gulbenkian says about Garden Grove's physicians, acknowledging that physicians can sometimes resist change. But "they took the lead, which was the beauty of it and why I felt [that implementation] would succeed."

Garden Grove also benefited from an enthusiastic chief of surgery, says Andrea Jesenek-Meh, RN, director of perioperative services and leader of the H&P revision effort. "He was greatly involved in the process and was really the one who wanted to enforce it and help us with other physician buy-in," Jesenek-Meh says.

This is an excerpt from a member only article. To read the article in its entirety, please login or subscribe to Briefings on The Joint Commission.

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