One way MHC is enhancing the safety of our patients is by promoting best practices with our Informed Consent process.
The informed consent process includes one or more conversations between the provider and the patient, interactive discussion, educational materials, obtaining written consent, and appropriate chart documentation.
Recent recommendations from consultants we hired and a previous citation from TJC presented us with the opportunity to review our entire informed consent process. By improving our informed consent compliance, we have the potential to increase staff efficiency, ensure accurate documentation, enhance physician-patient communication, and improve overall patient safety and satisfaction.
Our goal is to have a consistent practice of obtaining the patient signature at the time of the informed consent discussion while in the provider’s office. The physician and the patient will both sign the form and date it. The informed consent will be sent to the hospital at the same time as the H&P and other required pre-op documentation.
Additional modifications:
- time frame for a “valid” signature increases from 30 days to 90 days, with an additional 90-day signature, if needed
- eliminate low-usage procedure-specific forms
- consolidate different versions of procedure-specific forms that are being used at various locations into 1 form to be used at all locations for that procedure
- clarify the approval process when requesting a new procedure-specific consent
This process change has been reviewed with hundreds of providers across the system over the past few months to discuss best practice of informed consent. The feedback has been positive, and the proposed process is supported.
When the time comes, be prepared to eliminate any previously printed forms.
In the coming months, we will provide more information on the roll out process. In the meantime, please direct any questions to Connie Rottman, crottman@mhc.net.