Caregivers Find New Roles in the Care Team of Tomorrow –and Efficiency as a Team

It’s been almost a year since Nurse Manager Matt Eckinger’s unit – Lerner Tower 7 UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute at UH Cleveland Medical Center – began participating in the pilot for the UH Care Team of Tomorrow.

And he and his team have been seeing the benefits of how it works at the patient’s bedside and sharing those details – as well as other insights – with nursing leaders.

“For example, we’ve already seen the difference that a mobility aide and a hygiene expert make for the patient,” said Matt. “Patients enjoy being washed up, and it’s such a basic need – now it’s not something we just have to try to fit in to our workflow, but is done every day.

“Having another person there who is a mobility aide, to get the patient up and walking, makes them feel like they are getting closer to going home. And the patient experience ambassador has dedicated time to sit and talk with patients, and the patients really appreciate that.”

Matt says many of the people on his staff have been enjoying their new roles – some even to their surprise. “They like that it’s given them some variety in their work. Also, before we had these roles, it really was up to the nurse and the patient care nurse assistant to try and do all these things, and some days that was a challenge.

“By having people dedicated to these new roles, it helps assure that essential components of patient care are completed for our patients.”