In an effort to continuously improve outcomes, the UT Southwestern Department of Neurological Surgery is actively building a comprehensive clinical quality program, with multiple integrated areas working on quality initiatives to enhance the already excellent care we deliver.
This program, led by Ankur Patel, M.D., is a patient-centered approach to ensure the best possible experience. A key component of an exceptional patient experience starts with team communication. With this in mind, we have launched a monthly multidisciplinary quality committee that includes physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, therapists, and care coordinators so that our patients receive extraordinary care. In addition, we have enhanced daily rounds with our providers and nurses, with a focus on efficient and coordinated discharges, in order to reduce the length of stay.
With this added level of communication, we have enhanced our discharge coordination so that patients do not have to spend more time in the hospital than necessary. This includes ensuring that treatment is delivered efficiently as well as identifying target discharge dates when patients arrive. We also are further standardizing our processes for our most common procedures. Together, these efforts will allow our patients to quickly get back to the most important parts of their lives.
In the coming months, Dr. Patel and his team intend to create clinical pathways that optimize the care of patients – to ensure everyone on the care team is on the same page – based on the best available evidence for each patient.