Foundation hosts “Yellow Belt” graduation for 57 students

The DFW Hospital Council (DFWHC) Foundation hosted its annual Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt graduation on November 7 at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Frisco. Presented in coordination with 6SigmaTek, the event honored 57 students from 13 Texas hospitals.

“We had great participation this year with some of the best problem-solving projects we have ever seen,” said Patti Taylor, project coordinator and the director of quality and patient safety at the DFWHC Foundation. “We hope this program can provide insight into the techniques of improvement methodologies. The training provides introductions to process management and teamwork while enabling individuals to achieve objectives at their hospitals.”

For the past four years, the DFWHC Foundation has been hosting Lean Six Sigma classes to promote hospital patient safety. Sponsored by the Hospital Improvement Innovation Network (HIIN), the certification program provides insight into the techniques of improvement methodologies.

Final results for participating hospitals included:

• Baylor Scott & White Health – Developed “Sepsis Patient Discharge” education materials;
• Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Plano – Increased appropriate orders for C-Diff testing from 81 percent to 87 percent;
• Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Waxahachie – When obtaining Curos Caps, reduced process step from one minute 45 seconds to 16.26 seconds for a 146 percent improvement in time saved for bedside nurses;
• Dallas Medical Center – A total of 23 Sepsis mortalities were avoided for a cost savings of $207,000;
• HCA Houston Northwest Hospital – Increase of eight percent compliance rate of fall initiatives with a one-month cost savings of $59,055 and an annual savings of $573,993;
• JPS Health Network – 100 percent compliance using 7mm Biopatch to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI);
• Medical City Dallas – Decreased vent days from 6.42 to 5.96 in 2019;
• Medical City Las Colinas – Created a streamlined process for educating Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients starting on the first day of admission;
• Methodist Charlton Medical Center – Implemented Purposeful Rounding to address patient toileting needs;
• Methodist Dallas Medical Center – Increased VTE Prophylaxis prior to surgery;
• Methodist Mansfield Medical Center – Blood Culture contamination rates were decreased by .5 percent for a total savings of $23,895;
• Methodist McKinney Medical Center – Developed “Preventing Complications after Surgery” education materials;
• Nacogdoches Medical Center – Increased staff C-Diff knowledge assessments from 80.8 percent to 100 percent.

Congratulations to all graduates! For information, please contact Patti at ptaylor@dfwhcfoundation.org.