Nurses MUMC+ take lead in innovation

Too often, innovations are only presented to nurses just before implementation, whereas they, as end users, know better than anyone else what is really needed on the work floor. Maastricht UMC (MUMC+) has therefore deliberately chosen a different course: bottom-up innovation, with nurses themselves at the wheel of change. Marjolein Heemels, Director of Nursing at MUMC+, states in ICT&health 6 that innovation readiness requires three elements: skills, structure and a culture that stimulates innovation and ownership.

The most important link in healthcare innovation sometimes seems to be forgotten: nurses are often not involved in innovation until an innovation is almost implemented. "Then the whole innovation misses the mark," Heemels says. "Innovation is therefore not a project, but a strategic assignment."

Skills nurses

In the MUMC+, nurses are actively encouraged to develop skills that are essential to play a meaningful role in innovation. "Think leadership skills, learning to think about innovation and working with PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycles," Heemels explains. These new expectations also called for a new nursing position: the director nurse. "This nurse has additional responsibilities around quality, safety and innovation," Heemels continues. "It is a role that helps the team understand, guide and secure the change." The vision of Heemels and the MUMC+ is clear: an innovation-strong nursing profession is willing and able to embrace and integrate new ways of working into the care process. "And that will demonstrably improve healthcare. Because for us, innovation is not just about gadgets or technology, but mainly about better, safer and smarter organized care, in the broadest sense of the word. Co-creation with nurses is essential for this."

Social robot

The MUMC+'s vision of nursing innovation is working, as evidenced by concrete projects. One example is the use of a social robot to better inform patients during their hospitalization. Dennis van Helvert, director nurse at the Cardiology department, is one of the driving forces. "Patients reported that they were insufficiently informed about their illness, medication and living arrangements upon discharge from the hospital. Our research showed that healthcare professionals spend a lot of time on standard information, but often convey it in their own way, which affects consistency. Also, this way of providing information does not meet patients' broad information needs. In addition to factual information, patients especially need reassurance and a clear understanding of their care plan after discharge."

Digital information

Another example is digital education for patients undergoing stem cell transplantation. Floor Cruts, director nurse in the Oncology-Hematology Department explains how this innovation came about "Previously, patients received an information session with the director nurse beforehand. In preparation for this talk, patients were given a leaflet to read, but in practice this happened very little. During the consultation, the entire content still had to be explained, which took an hour and took a colleague off the shop floor." Cruts and her colleagues investigated how patients could be better and more efficiently prepared. "We ended up with short informational videos describing the entire process for patients in one to two minutes. Patients can choose which topics they want to watch, such as about oral care or dress code. They can watch the videos back whenever they want, and loved ones can watch them as well. That gives more peace of mind, clarity and control."

Source: ICT&health.co.uk