The ATD Excellence in Practice Awards program recognizes results achieved through the use of practices and solutions from the entire scope of talent development.  Here’s a look at three healthcare organizations in the healthcare realm that received citations this year. 

Crouse Hospital: Collaborative Learning Partnership

Syracuse, New York 

Purpose of Practice: Crouse Hospital identified an opportunity to share its success with Lean Six Sigma techniques with their CNY EMS partners to develop and advance their quality improvement programs. The diverse group, which included Welch Allyn, in this learning collaborative worked together on research and improvement projects, and learned how to implement performance and quality initiatives in their own organizations. 

Outcomes to Date: The outcomes of this learning partnership have significantly improved the processes and patient care provided by EMS professionals in 11 New York counties, improved EMS operational efficiency, advanced the quality of care within the hospital setting, and strengthened relationships in the community. Improvements created a significant impact on patient care with obvious efficiencies in the system. 

Number of Employees: 3,500 

Signature HealthCARE: Executive CNA Program

Louisville, Kentucky 

Purpose of Practice: At Signature HealthCARE, every executive leader is required to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) within the first year of employment. CNAs work closely with patients and residents, and the company recognized the need to have leaders experience the same challenges, sacrifices, and joys in order to make effective business decisions.

Outcomes to Date: Company executives have embraced experiential learning and now see their mandate as something bigger than just the bottom line or the responsibility of ensuring medical or regulatory compliance. They now understand that corporate programming and decision making has very real consequences for CNAs. 

Number of Employees: 225 

Union Hospital: Adopting a New Electronic Health Record

Elkton, Maryland 

Purpose of Practice: This practice was designed to train clinicians in the use of a new electronic health record and to reduce anxiety about the change. It went beyond teaching the technology to becoming a vehicle to engage frontline staff and build enthusiasm among all clinicians for this high-risk organizational change. 

Outcomes to Date: Minimal disruption to quality patient care, as measured by hospital leader surveys; 100 percent validated clinician competency prior to the records going live; sustained accurate documentation within the new system, as measured by chart audits; and maintenance of excellent customer service skills throughout the transition period, as measured by patient satisfaction surveys. 

Number of Employees: 590