Creating and sustaining a collaborative model of care

Abstract

For the past 3 years, Toronto East General Hospital staff and leadership have been involved in the design, implementation, and evaluation of a transformational change to the model of patient care. The purpose of the new model is to enhance quality, safety, and patient satisfaction through a redefinition of our approach to the patient experience. The evaluation framework for the Coordinated Care Team (CCT) model of care addressed safety and quality outcomes, patient satisfaction, staff and physician satisfaction, and resource impact. Results of the evaluation suggest that the introduction of the CCT model using the patient care bundle can have a significant impact on the patient experience through enhanced access to bedside care as well as improved quality and safety outcomes. This article is a follow-up to the article on the development of the model published in Forum (Fall 2009). It extends upon the previous article through an overview of the model as it evolved, a discussion of the first-year evaluation for three pilot units, and lessons learned regarding the change process.