From Patient Care Facilitator to Patient Outcome Facilitator, the evolution of a nursing model

Purpose:
Modification of a nursing model to meet the ever-changing challenges of supporting direct care nurses in providing high quality care, and to optimize outcomes for maximum benefit for patients and the organization.

Significance:
The Patient Care Facilitator (PCF) role was introduced in 2003 to manage throughput and continuity of care. As healthcare has changed in recent years, the model has evolved from a care management centered role to a role dedicated to focusing on outcomes and performance improvement.

Strategy and Implementation:
In 2010, to meet the increasing demands for high quality outcomes, nursing leaders made the strategic decision to change the PCF model to a one dedicated to drive the process for improved quality patient outcomes and safety initiatives. With this move, the Patient Outcome Facilitator (POF) role was introduced. The POF's are charged with extrapolating meaningful conclusions from data to enable the identification of areas of opportunity for improvement of Nursing Sensitive Indicators, National Quality Measures, and service line performance improvement (PI) initiatives. A team of 24 POFs has been formed, representing every in-patient care area. These dynamic individuals serve as role models, change agents, and demonstrate expertise in PI and outcome management on the individual unit level as well as for the organization.

Evaluation:
The success of the POF model has been validated in numerous ways. Hospital acquired pressure ulcers rates have decreased to 0.72%, catheter acquired urinary tract infections have decreased 1.7%, central line associated blood stream infections & ventilator associated pneumonia rates are zero.

Implications for Practice:
As healthcare changes and with the increasing emphasis on quality nursing care, the POF model places nurses in the lead role for driving quality patient outcomes.