Modern healthcare systems must adhere to a set of principles and guidelines established in 1999 by the Institute of Medicine to address the challenges of meeting patient safety goals and
objectives, and this is a serious concern which demonstrates the significant divide in healthcare between the care that is necessary and the actual care that is received (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2017). This reflects the importance of recognizing change as a driving force in healthcare practice to ensure that all patients receive the best possible care and treatment under a variety of conditions. Therefore, the concept of the STEEEP Principles was established by the Institute of Medicine to support effective change and improved care in the healthcare environment and are noted as the following: safe care, timely care, effective care, efficient care, equitable care, and patient-centered care.
For all patients, the STEEEP Principles demonstrate the importance of care that is focused on patient needs, is safe and effective in its delivery, is timely in meeting patient care expectations and medical concerns, provides equity of care across all population groups, and is focused on the patient and his or her specific needs above all else. This requires an effective understanding of the critical aspects of patient care and treatment which are driven by scientific and medical knowledge and principles, along with expert technical knowledge and skills among all employees who administer care to patients. All persons who provide service within the healthcare sector must adhere to the laws and regulations of the industry, along with the ethical principles of healthcare practice to ensure that all opportunities to improve quality of care are met and strengthened by their actions. Supporting an advanced approach to patient care quality requires the patient to be directly involved in all aspects of decision-making and to support the actions of their care providers, including the provision of care and treatment in a timely manner, regardless of the circumstances.
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STEEEP Principles
Partners Healthcare in Massachusetts, which includes Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, have established Innovation Units across over 50 nursing units to address some of the current gaps in delivery of care, to improve quality of care, and to promote best practices with the intent to provide exemplary multidisciplinary care to all patients (2017). For instance, the Innovation Units at Brigham and Women’s Hospital were established in 2011 to improve areas such as patient discharge, using a bundled concept to improve the likelihood of recovery, using the following criteria: phone calls to follow up with patients after discharge; providing all necessary information via communication during handoff; addressing any high levels of risk associated with medication administration; and ensuring that all patients who require follow-up visits with the physician have confirmed these appointments (Partners Healthcare, 2017). The following paragraphs will address this model of care in relation to the six STEEEP Principles established by the Institute of Medicine.
Safe Care
With the model of care established by Brigham and Women’s Hospital, safe care is a critical priority that is based upon the development of the Innovation Unit to ensure that quality of care is optimized and patients are treated under the best possible conditions to ensure that their health is not compromised and their recovery remains intact (Partners Healthcare, 2017). Patient safety is of the utmost importance and the Innovation Unit provides the opportunity to engage providers with patients directly to facilitate effective results. Furthermore, these units encourage communication and safe spaces to ensure that patient health is not compromised at any stage.
Timely Care
With the Innovation Unit, care is more timely because there is a greater emphasis on understanding the needs of each patient and ensuring that all possible options are explored to facilitate a positive and meaningful experience for patients. During the recovery phase, patients can openly communicate with their providers and trust that all testing, procedures, interactions with physicians and therapists, and other requirements of care are met without delays in a timely manner. This is of critical importance to ensure that patients are not inconvenienced or delayed by actions that could otherwise be prevented and that care providers administer plans of care with the patient’s recovery in mind.
Effective Care
The effectiveness of care in the Innovation Unit is contingent upon collaborative relationships among providers and patients to ensure that care meets the desired expectations and its delivery meets these goals (Musanti, O’Keefe, & Silverstein, 2012). Effective care requires all members of the unit to be on the same page in the delivery of care, all plans of care are administered with a focus on patients, and the need for effective care is accomplished without delays or other complications. A “culture of health” is essential to the effective delivery of care to meet the needs of all patients, and this is accomplished through the actions of the Innovation Unit on a routine basis (Martsolf, Gordon, May, Mason, Sullivan, & Villarruel, 2016).
Efficient Care
Healthcare practice in the Innovation Unit must be efficient with a greater emphasis on meeting all time-based requirements and constraints without compromising the quality of care that is received. This reflects the importance of open communication and detailed assessments and note-taking to ensure that all patients receive care that is aligned with the original plan. Furthermore, efficient care requires an understanding of the priorities associated with a patient’s overall care and how to best manage these objectives in a collaborative manner to reduce time wasted during the care process.
Equitable Care
Care must be equitable for all patients, regardless of financial need, race, ethnicity, gender, and other parameters. Therefore, all providers of care must demonstrate a level of equity while administering care and support an environment in which all patients are treated with the same level of dignity and respect in an environment where high quality care is an essential priority. This supports the need for a diverse work environment where patients receive the best possible care and treatment under all circumstances and regardless of their level of need or the color of their skin.
Patient-Centered Care
All care should be focused on the patient and include their input and their ability to make effective decisions that will impact plans of care. The Innovation Unit supports patient-centered care and recognizes that direct patient involvement is a critical component of high quality care and treatment. Also, it demonstrates the importance of provider-patient collaboration to improve decision-making and quality of care in different ways.
Conclusion
The STEEEP Principles support the development and sustainability of high quality care for all patients. At Brigham and Women’s Hospital, successful care requires collaboration and a patient-centered focus which supports long-term growth and sustainability of care and treatment in a timely manner. Optimal efficiency is expected and supports the demand for timely and effective care under a variety of circumstances. It is anticipated that these objectives will continue to strengthen the need for additional oversight and cohesion among colleagues and patients in a collaborative and patient-centered care environment. This will ensure that all possible options are explored to demonstrate the value of healthcare practice and strengthen outcomes for patients to optimize their recovery and support a positive and meaningful work environment where high quality care is the norm.
- Institute for Healthcare Improvement (2017). Across the chasm: six aims for changing the Health Care system. Retrieved from http://www.ihi.org
- Musanti, R., O’Keefe, T., & Silverstein, W. (2012). Partners in caring: an innovative nursing model of care delivery. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 36(3), 217-224.
- Partners Organization (2017). Nurses across the system are taking on new, innovative roles to improve patient care. Retrieved from
http://www.partners.org
