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Interdisciplinary relationships enhance patient care

HCPro's Weekly Update on the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®*, March 27, 2007

Interdisciplinary relationships focused on quality patient outcomes are a daily process at Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City. The care management department (case management, social work and insurance review), direct care nurses, charge nurses, and nurse managers interact throughout the day as they seek to provide excellent care to each patient, says Renee Heinley, BSN, RN-BC, CPUM, director of care management.

"Interdisciplinary communication is ongoing to provide seamless continuum of care for our patients," Heinley says. Case managers and social workers are unit based and able to interact with nursing, patients, families, physicians, and other interdisciplinary departments to play a major role in relaying information that improves patient satisfaction and safety. Heinley says that the advantage of unit based care management staff is that it enhances the sharing of information with nursing and the interdisciplinary team to provide an ease of transition to the appropriate discharge disposition, such as home with home care or to a skilled nursing facility. Heinley says patient safety, customer satisfaction, and quality care are standard traits with Mercy's interdisciplinary team.

Source: Kay Lee Allen, BS, RN, project coordinator at Mercy Health Center.

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