We Fight Pain. New Moms Say, Thank You

Pain management is central to treating patients during and after their hospital stays. The Maternal Health department at the Panorama City Medical Center in Southern California routinely ranks high in HCAHPS scores. And there is a good reason why. To maintain their record, the team standardized when new moms got medication, called them after discharge and held to a no-pass policy of not walking past a room with an activated call light. Their efforts have twice earned them top honors in Southern California in five years.

Here's What Worked

• Standardizing pain medication schedules, and include follow-up calls after discharge
• Reassessing patient and communicating with her when next med is scheduled
• Reinforcing the idea that “every patient is my patient” and have "no-pass" policy

What can your team do to to put the patient at the center?