Conduct leadership rounds at the CHC, a process where leaders conduct “rounds” and engage with staff about services, specifically those tied to QI initiatives. Leadership rounds not only are an effective method for leaders to hear firsthand about what is going well and what issues need to be addressed, but also signal leadership’s commitment to QI efforts.
- Identify which leaders will be part of the rounding program. In addition to senior executives, consider including leaders in IT, finance, and human resources.
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Make a rounding schedule and keep to it. Although time may be tight, it is important for leadership to make a visible commitment by spending time engaging with staff in every department of the CHC.
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Communicate and follow up after rounds by leveraging available technology and creating systems to communicate information gathered during rounds, issues that will be addressed, and how they fit into the CHC’s broader QI efforts.
- QAPI Leadership Rounding Guide: Developed as a resource for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement (QAPI) programs, CHCs may use this tool to guide leadership rounds and monitor the progress of QAPI initiatives.
https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/QAPI/downloads/QAPILeadershipRoundingTool.pdf - How to Develop a Senior Leadership Rounding Program: In this article, CipherHealth, a healthcare technology company, stresses the importance of leadership rounds with staff to improve staff and patient satisfaction and provides key considerations when developing a rounding system.
https://cipherhealth.com/blog/implement-senior-leadership-rounding-program/