175 - Utilizing Visual Management Boards to Standardize Communication

Description: Description of team: A multidisciplinary team comprised of operating room, perianesthesia and sterile processing department nursing leaders, a project manager, anesthesia leaders, quality, and practice support leaders collaborated to develop a plan for visual management boards.
Preparation and planning: The team met weekly to discuss current practices for communication and how visual management boards could be utilized across our large surgical practice.

Assessment: Feedback from staff and leaders indicated a need to develop consistent modes of information sharing and the ability for team members to access historical information. Visual management boards address these needs.
Implementation: Electronic visual management boards were planned for forty-one locations. The physical monitor locations were identified by practice leaders, typically where team huddles occur. Most boards are touchscreen, with some being view only. Nursing and anesthesia leaders manage the board content, which includes announcements, practice updates, quality data and project information and status, as well as staff recognitions, celebrations, and upcoming team events.
Outcome: Visual management boards are used to share current and historical information. Staff can view content on the physical board or access the visual management board content via any computer, increasing the opportunity to interact with the information. Staff can use a mobile device or computer to submit questions, suggestions, and content to their specialty specific board.
Implications for perioperative nursing: Visual management boards allow perioperative team members to display and access consistent information with ease.