MOBILE - The University of South Alabama Medical Center is participating in a two-year nationwide study that will strive to improve patient bedside care.

USA Medical Center is joining 68 other progressive hospitals in the Transforming Care at the Bedside initiative that seeks to examine and improve patient care by nurses and other clinical staff members.  The study is sponsored by the American Organization of Nurse Executives with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

“At USA Medical Center, we pride ourselves on providing the highest level of care,” Beth Anderson, USA Medical Center administrator, said.  “We’re excited to learn more about the Transforming Care at the Bedside initiative.  We’re looking at increasing efficient use of nursing time through environmental changes, use of technology and team training.”

Transforming Care at the Bedside, or TCAB, is designed to improve the quality and safety of patient care on medical and surgical units, to increase the vitality and retention of nurses, and to improve the effectiveness of the entire care team.

“The TCAB program involves the nursing staff and nursing administration working together to identify changes in practice that increase the nurse's time at the bedside giving direct patient care,” Stephanie Brown, USAMC sixth floor nurse manager, said.  “Over time, the medical/surgical nurse has had to spend more time away from the bedside getting supplies, charting, delivery of medications, et cetera.”

Research has shown that the more time a nurse spends at the bedside, the better the patient outcome.  This includes decreased length of stay, less medication errors, improved patient/family education, improved customer satisfaction and improved staff satisfaction.

“Nurses will be at the forefront of the changes,” Becky Pomrenke, a registered nurse at USA Medical Center, said.  “This project gives nurses a voice and an opportunity to make a real difference in their work environments and create positive results in their patient outcomes.  USA Medical Center nursing staff will be able to implement their ideas to improve our health care delivery system.”

An important part of the program is improving the work environment and satisfaction of the nursing staff.  TCAB encourages involvement of the nursing staff to identify and initiate changes.  “When the staff is involved in this process, change is easier and they are much happier with the changes,” Brown said.

The USA College of Nursing is an active partner with USA Medical Center in the study.  Dr. Linda Roussel, USA College of Nursing professor, wrote the hospital’s grant application.

“This is a real plus for the USA Medical Center and the USA College of Nursing,” Roussel said.  “Transforming Care at the Bedside is truly a nursing initiative, with nurses at the helm.  This is an exciting and energizing time to be in health care.”

The sixth floor medical/surgical unit at USA Medical Center is the focal point of the TCAB study, with another floor serving as a “control group” against which to measure and compare results.