pharmacy - Journey PX Patient Software

By Ashton Elder and Linda Robinson, MSN, CPXP, RN, Vice President of Clinical Excellence, MDM Healthcare

In the current landscape post-pandemic, US hospitals find themselves grappling with formidable challenges. The pandemic has exacerbated an anticipated shortage of nursing labor and has placed added strain on an already fragile healthcare system. This strain bears the potential to adversely affect patient outcomes and amplify health disparities. At the core of the healthcare system, nurses are experiencing unparalleled stress, burnout, and uncertainties regarding their profession. In this context, it becomes imperative to explore avenues to enhance the healthcare system's functionality for the betterment of all.

Linda Robinson, MSN, RN, CPXP recently engaged in a conversation with Ramona Cheek, the Vice President of Nursing Transformation and Innovation at Bon Secours Mercy Health. Cheek introduces her pioneering research initiative, 'the way we work,' poised to reshape the entire care process, pledging enriched experiences for patients, nurses, and healthcare practitioners alike.

“We know that healthcare and nursing, especially the nursing workforce, have changed. We at Bon Secours Mercy Health have realized that the traditional approaches to staffing and organizing care delivery are not going to work in the future. So, the way we work initiative was born with the intent to reimagine care to provide care for the future,” she said.

This initiative seeks to reimagine the care process, ensuring enhanced experiences for patients, healthcare professionals, and all individuals engaged with hospitals. This innovative drive originates from Cheek's unwavering commitment to heed the voices of nurses who ardently expressed their longing for more quality time dedicated to patients.

“We started the initiative really simply and it was by going out and listening to the voices of nurses, and what we heard from the nurses resoundingly is that they want more time, they want more time to be with patients, to care for patients, to learn about caring for patients,” said Cheek.

The 'the way we work' initiative is fueled by the mission to recapture valuable time for nurses and is built upon four robust pillars, all underpinned by technology and digital solutions.

Cheek explains, “The way we work initiative is built on four pillars and a beam because I think the beam that supports all the other pillars, is, of course, technology and digital solutions. We know that in order for us to do things more efficiently and effectively, we are going to have to employ technology, we know that human resources are at a premium, and we are competing for that ever-shrinking pool of the best and the brightest for human resources. So, technology is going to have to be an enabler that really goes across our other pillars.”

Cheek highlighted the four foundational pillars underpinning this transformative initiative:

Revolutionary Care Delivery Models

The first pillar delves into revolutionary care delivery models.

"We must scrutinize diverse care delivery models and roles, asking ourselves which models will guide us into the future."

Streamlined Workflows and Communication

The second pillar encompasses streamlined workflows and communication.

"We recognize the necessity to reshape workflows and communication. We must shatter the barriers and comprehend our professional responsibilities, scope of care, and practice. This process will facilitate an environment of energy and synergy, allowing us to perform at the pinnacle of our training and education, delivering what our patients anticipate."

Support for New Nurses and Addressing Turnover

The third pillar centers on providing unwavering support for new nurses and addressing the pressing concern of swift nurse turnover.

"We are witnessing an influx of young professionals in the field, while experienced nurses are departing. We must ascertain how to furnish support to these newcomers."

Well-being of Nurses and Flexible Schedules

The fourth pillar concentrates on nurturing nurses' well-being, incorporating flexible work schedules to foster a healthier work-life balance.

"Our well-being holds significance, and achieving work-life integration is crucial. Our work environment must cater to these aspects."

It's vital to underscore that these pillars are all fortified by the beam of technology.

"Artificial intelligence in medicine and nursing will revolutionize our methods." This resonates with the transformative potential of technology in reshaping patient care. One such example is Journey PX, a state-of-the-art, cloud-based patient experience platform, heightening patient engagement throughout the care continuum. Journey PX aligns with all the pillars delineated by Cheek in the 'the way we work' initiative.

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Optimizing Technology to Fit the Needs of Nurses

The conversation extends to the realm of virtual care. Cheek ponders, "Can a virtual nurse serve as an expert resource for new nurses in need of support?" This question reflects the innovative approach of utilizing virtual nursing to address the challenges posed by physical limitations.

Technology such as Journey PX Connect provides hospitals with the ability to bring additional experts to give that added layer of support. Journey PX’s Connect solution enables video calling for patients and families. The solution also provides a secure connection that allows for virtual visits and rounding by providers, nurses, other clinicians, and authorized staff. All of this is done through the patient’s TV in the room.

The interoperability of devices emerges as another significant consideration. Cheek elucidates, "Interoperability and stack ability are pivotal. Devices need to multitask, replacing individual devices addressing specific needs."

Journey PX solutions operate through the patient’s in-room TV. These solutions prepare patients for discharge by ensuring they remain informed about their daily care plans, receive tailored education, and streamline communication among patients, families, and care teams. The platform facilitates bedside shift reports, a cornerstone of quality and safety.

Time-in-Motion Study

Cheek's time-in-motion study reveals that time wastage by nurses predominantly occurs in medication and documentation tasks. Journey PX responds with tailored meds-to-beds programs, integrating with Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and engaging patients at the bedside to enhance medication health literacy. Additionally, Journey PX saves nurses valuable time when it comes to documentation as all of the information is updated in real-time and allows care teams to hardwire bedside shift reports and create LEAN clinical workflows.

Concluding her insights, Cheek offers a final reflection on the journey.

"The biggest realization is that these aren't challenges to solve, but dilemmas to manage."

She underscores the importance of nurses' voices and the trust they place in administrators to foster an environment conducive to patient care.
To delve deeper into Ramona Cheek's perspectives, you can listen to the complete PX Space podcast interview below.

Written with contributing author Linda Robinson, MSN, CPXP, RN, Vice President of Clinical Excellence, MDM Healthcare

Recently, MDM Healthcare VP of Clinical Excellence, Linda Robinson, MSN, RN, CPXP, conducted an exclusive interview with renowned Medical Oncologist and Hematologist, Philip D. Leming, MD. With a remarkable career that includes co-founding the medical oncology department at The Christ Hospital and leading the Christ Hospital Cancer Research Program, Dr. Leming currently serves as the Medical Director of Cincinnati Cancer Advisors, an organization that provides comprehensive and compassionate care to individuals and families affected by cancer. In its quest to enhance cancer care and treatment in the region, Cincinnati Cancer Advisors extends a free second opinion cancer service to members of the Greater Cincinnati community. Additionally, CCA offers consultative oncology services and financial assistance through a partnership with the Patient Advocate Foundation.

In their conversation, Dr. Leming emphasized his philosophy of approaching cancer treatment with a curative mindset.

“Even the worst of all cancers are curable until proven otherwise,” he said.

He also stressed the significance of treating patients with dignity, highlighting the importance of compassionate care and actively listening to patients.

“Oftentimes it’s the simple things that make a difference in patient care such as practicing with compassion or just listening to patients,” he said.

Dr. Leming also shared his practice of getting to know patients beyond their illness, recognizing their individuality and reminding them of the importance of their lives.

“Something that transcends both human and neuroscience is that when someone comes in no matter how old, ill or debilitated, you want to connect with the patient as a human being and give them a reminder of the individual importance of their life,” he said. “It’s important to be able to communicate with patients and get to know them and by doing that you actually get more valuable information to help treat them.”

Drawing on his experience, Dr. Leming highlighted the art of bedside care, emphasizing the value of simplicity in communication and providing patients with a clear understanding of their condition.

“You learn who the person is by listening to them, gauging their anxiety, talking with their family, and trying to put the illness you are being asked to review in perspective,” he said. “The basic part is trying to make things simple for people, care providers should be able to explain most illnesses in an uncomplicated way.”

He advocated for a servant leadership mindset in healthcare, emphasizing the role of healthcare providers in reducing suffering and instilling hope.

“You are there to help, to serve, try to reduce suffering and provide hope. Ideally all the leadership in healthcare should have this mindset,” he said.

Additionally, Dr. Leming discussed the parallels he sees between medicine, music, and martial arts, emphasizing the importance of mastering the fundamentals and approaching each discipline with precision and accuracy.

“Medicine is like music and martial arts; you can never master it, and it has been around for centuries,” he said. “The master, or the sensei in martial arts, does the basics correctly every single time. It’s interesting we think the master must be extraordinarily complex, but a concert pianist will sit down and practice the scales and a martial artist will practice the Kata slowly. Anyone who has done either martial arts or music will tell you that it is much harder to do things slowly and accurately than it is to speed through things, and the same philosophy applies to the application of the art of medicine.”

To delve deeper into Dr. Leming's insights, you can listen to the full PX Space podcast interview on major podcast platforms or by clicking the icon included in this feature article.

Written with contributing author Linda Robinson, MSN, CPXP, RN, Vice President of Clinical Excellence, MDM Healthcare

Dr. David Fryburg is driven by a profound mission to champion kindness, viewing it as a force more potent than any pharmaceutical drug he has encountered in his extensive years in the healthcare industry. In a recent podcast episode of PX Space, host Linda Robinson, MSN, RN CPXP, engaged in an enlightening conversation with Dr. Fryburg, who serves as the co-founder of Envision Kindness. This non-profit organization is devoted to harnessing the influential power of kindness through the art of photography and storytelling.

With a wealth of experience as a physician and scientist, Dr. Fryburg's journey has been shaped by his tenure as a faculty member at the esteemed University of Virginia Medical School and his work in the biomedical industry with reputable organizations like Pfizer and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. Leading teams of scientists in groundbreaking studies on new medicines and improved diagnostic methods, Dr. Fryburg's invaluable contributions to the medical field have earned him numerous grants and awards.

Envision Kindness was born out of Dr. Fryburg's firm belief in the need to shift focus towards the positive aspects of life. Recognizing the unique ability of positive pictures and stories to inspire, connect, and heal, the organization strives to bring these uplifting moments directly to people's lives. Through their endeavors, they aim to create a world where kindness takes center stage, cultivating an environment of empathy, compassion, and joy.

“Our mission is to promote kindness, connection, and joy for people on a population scale, particularly in high-stress settings like healthcare, and we do it through media which works really well and really fast,” he said.
Dr. Fryburg explained his mindset when he decided to start Envision Kindness. “As an endocrinologist, while leading these teams of scientists, I found myself getting saddened, stressed, and anxious in proportion to how much news I was consuming. Research showed that consuming news this way can quickly make people feel sad and stressed, affecting their own lives. So, that made me think that’s really not fair… people deserve a higher quality of life,” he said.

To generate their healing images, Envision Kindness took a creative approach.
“We had to build our content from scratch. The way we ended up building it was through creating an international kindness photography contest. We’ve done four iterations of it, and we are actually about to launch the fifth. We get over 2,000 submissions from around the world each year,” he said.
Envision’s 2022 Our World is Kind contest received over 2,500 wonderful and inspiring images of kindness, compassion, joy, and love.

“Our kindness images have a main theme, which is the positive interaction between living beings. People are uplifted and inspired by these images, and that improves mood through media,” he said. Dr. Fryburg further explained some of the science behind kindness.
“Since I’m a scientist, I decided to do more than produce the images; I also studied their impact. We were very fortunate to have a team of psychologists help conduct our first study using still images of kindness. In that study, what blew everyone away was that kindness images had twice the effect of pretty images, such as nature images, on people’s mood when it came to producing feelings of gratitude, sympathy, compassion, and love,” he said.

The results were so powerful that the statistician who examined them had never seen data like this before.
“The results were so overwhelming that they screamed 'pay attention, there’s something important here,'” he said.
Dr. Fryburg's deep dive into the psychology and biology of altruism revealed that kindness is an innate quality observed across every species on Earth. Several scientists have studied how kindness affects our choices in life, well-being, and more in a positive way. In fact, Dr. Fryburg mentioned that in his many years in the pharmaceutical industry, he has yet to see a drug that has the effect of kindness.

Envision Kindness stands as a compelling example of the media's potential to enhance the healthcare experience. Pioneering a cutting-edge, cloud-based patient experience platform, Journey PX is dedicated to elevating human experiences in healthcare through innovative technology solutions. Journey PX patient engagement solutions span the continuum of care, delivering scalable and cost-effective technology solutions that are adaptable to facilities of all sizes, streamlining care team operations.
With a firm commitment to humanizing care, Journey PX, like Envision Kindness, understands that media can be leveraged artfully within hospitals. Our digital signage solution, Navigate, offers versatile applications, including alleviating patient stress. Embracing the latest technological advancements, healthcare organizations can now transform the hospital environment with digital display technology, providing patients, families, and care teams a modern and immersive experience.

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MDM Healthcare offers a diverse range of Pro AV solutions that elevate various areas both within and outside hospitals. Their offerings include curved indoor DVLED displays, UHD Multi-Touch digital displays, and outdoor DVLED displays, each designed to make a significant impact. These solutions find versatile applications, such as showcasing digital donor walls and informative screens in waiting rooms, facilitating communication in reception areas, and streamlining check-ins through medical kiosks.

Pro AV solutions provide hospitals with enhanced communication techniques, enabling them to share vital health and safety information, broadcast educational videos in treatment wings, and display captivating digital artwork. Embracing Pro AV technology, hospitals can harness interactive experiences, improve wayfinding throughout hospital facilities, enable real-time information absorption, introduce modern digital art, employ robot guides, and much more. For a deeper understanding of the capabilities that Pro AV solutions can bring to your hospital organization, don't hesitate to contact us.

In a world where headlines often highlight the darker aspects of humanity, it becomes easy to overlook the profound impact that kindness and compassion can have on individuals and communities. Nevertheless, amidst the chaos, organizations like Envision Kindness strive to remind us of the beauty of human connection and the transformative power of acts of goodwill. This blog article delves into the heartwarming mission of Envision Kindness, exploring their vision, initiatives, and the positive influence they are making on a global scale.

You can hear more from Dr. David Fryburg by listening to his PX Space podcast interview. Also, learn more about Envision Kindness on their website

Written with contributing author Linda Robinson, MSN, CPXP, RN, Vice President of Clinical Excellence, MDM Healthcare

As June unfolds, we acknowledge the significance of Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month—a time dedicated to raising awareness about Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia that impact millions of individuals across the United States.

In this article, we delve into the topic of dementia care, highlighting insights from our recent PX Space podcast interview with renowned Dementia Care Specialist, Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA. With her unique positive approach to dementia care, Snow offers valuable insights and strategies that can transform the caregiving experience and enrich the lives of both caregivers and those living with dementia. Snow is also the Owner and Founder of Positive Approach to Care®, an organization dedicated to enhancing the life and relationships of those living with brain change by fostering an inclusive global community. Snow’s personal mission is to better the lives of people with dementia—as well as the lives of their caregivers—by sharing what she has learned. An occupational therapist by training, today Snow stands out as a prominent global champion and educator, advocating for individuals affected by dementia or other cognitive impairments.

Snow explained why she decided to devote herself to dementia care.

“I had family members who developed dementia and I had friends who were figuring out how to support people living with dementia. I was working in a variety of settings where people living with dementia and their families were not getting what I considered good support, care information, or preparation and that’s not OK. So that got me on the road to thinking there are better ways to do this and it’s not fair that people and families don’t know that,” she said.

Snow has become a guiding light for caregivers and healthcare professionals seeking innovative ways to provide compassionate and effective dementia care. Her Positive Approach to Care™ (PAC) philosophy emphasizes the significance of connection, empathy, and person-centered care in supporting individuals with dementia. Through this approach, Snow focuses on recognizing and embracing the remaining abilities of individuals with dementia, rather than focusing solely on their limitations.

Snow firmly believes that education is the key to empowering caregivers. The diagnosis not only affects patients, but families as well. Snow pointed out that four out of five families fall apart due to dealing with the effects of this condition long term.

“This condition is devastating for families,” Snow explained. “Families often walk into the situation really unprepared to deal with more than the memory loss. However, dementia is an umbrella, it’s always more than memory. It’s judgement, problem solving, and changes in initiation,” she said.

In the interview, she discusses the importance of gaining an accurate understanding of dementia, its impact on brain function, and how to effectively communicate and connect with individuals living with dementia. By equipping caregivers with knowledge and practical skills, Snow enables them to navigate the challenges of caregiving with confidence and empathy, fostering a positive caregiving environment.

A cornerstone of Snow's approach is the concept of person-centered care. She emphasizes the need to recognize each person's unique abilities, preferences, and life experiences, allowing for personalized care that respects their individuality. Snow explains that caregivers can create an environment that promotes dignity, independence, and a sense of purpose for those living with dementia.

Communication can be a significant challenge when caring for someone with dementia. Snow shares valuable insights and techniques to enhance communication and meaningful engagement. Snow explained that the ideal skillset needed to communicate with memory care patients is often not properly taught. She gave the example of a patient being unable to recall the word restaurant: the patient says “the place where we go out to eat,” and the caregiver responds, “the place where we go out to eat, do you mean a restaurant or something else?”

Snow explains, “Instead of just giving them the word, you give them options to choose and that’s actually keeping their brain active, and it’s keeping people connected instead of flustered and confused. It’s better for the patient, but it’s also better for the caregiver as it turns out,” she said.

By adopting effective communication techniques, caregivers can reduce frustration, enhance relationships, and foster a sense of well-being for both the caregiver and the person with dementia.

Snow also encourages caregivers to focus on creating positive moments and joyful interactions throughout their caregiving journey. These moments can arise from engaging in meaningful activities and giving patients positive affirmations. Snow explained how impactful positivity is for dementia patients.

“The affirmation of ability is huge. You have to count the little wins. Finding those places and spaces to lift someone up, it actually makes their brain work better,” she said.

Snow expressed the healing power of celebrating these moments and fostering a positive atmosphere, caregivers can create a more fulfilling and enriching experience for themselves and their loved ones.

By emphasizing education, person-centered care, effective communication, and the creation of positive moments, Snow empowers caregivers to make a profound difference in the lives of those they care for. Empowering patients in their care journey is a philosophy embraced by innovative, cloud-based patient engagement platform Journey PX. Journey PX solutions empower patients by keeping them informed of their daily plan of care, providing individualized education, and streamlining communications between patients, families, and care teams. Journey PX’s digital whiteboard, My Day, Today, provides vital information to hospital care teams, patients, and their families. My Stay provides patients with the education they need via access to an extensive education library. This allows patients to become more empowered through health literacy and enhances their readiness for discharge. It also helps support patients after discharge by providing education that can be texted to them, giving an added layer of assurance that they will not be readmitted. Journey PX’s virtual care solution, Connect, is another piece of technology that supports the overall health and well-being of the patient, by allowing patients access to family members and care experts virtually at the bedside.

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You can hear more from Teepa Snow by listening to the PX Space podcast interview. Also, learn more about her organization Positive Approach to Care® by visiting their website, contacting them at info@teepasnow.com, or calling 877-877-1671 for a consultation if you are a caregiver or family member of a memory care patient.

Written with contributing author Linda Robinson, MSN, CPXP, RN, Vice President of Clinical Excellence, MDM Healthcare

Linda Robinson, the Vice President of Clinical Excellence at MDM Healthcare, recently spoke with Cindy M. Barter, MD, a family practitioner at Hunterdon Health in Lambertville, NJ. Dr. Barter is also a lactation consultant and is passionate about health equity, especially as it relates to maternal child health.

The two discussed a variety of topics including addressing barriers to prenatal care, meeting the needs of the Spanish-speaking community, improving care, group care, and maternal health equity. Since 2009, Dr. Barter has been a faculty member of the Hunterdon Family Medicine Residency Program. She directs patient care at Hunterdon Family Medicine at Phillips-Barber and is responsible for providing and teaching maternity care and inpatient Family Medicine rotations.

“I had been a family care doctor who delivers babies for a long time. When I started at Hunterdon, I found out that there was a group of women who didn’t start prenatal care until much later in their pregnancy. It happened to be a large Latino community and I started to think, ‘What are the barriers why are they not starting care?’”

Dr. Barter explained that she heard that the causes included large copays, lack of a translator, transportation and daycare issues. Barter started looking at ways to solve the problem.

“A lot of healthcare providers think addressing the social determinants of health isn’t their job, that it’s someone else’s job. I wanted to start to look at ways to think outside the box and think about it differently,” she said.

Barter received a grant to provide pregnant women prenatal care without a copay, transportation for that care, and childcare during prenatal care visits. They also did the entire visit in English and Spanish so there wasn’t a language barrier.

“In a very short period of time, after we started the Latina women started prenatal care by about 50 percent during the first trimester. We know early access to prenatal care improves outcomes,” she said.

Barter also added that within a year of starting the program, the rate of women receiving early prenatal care jumped to 85 percent.

“If you take away the barriers, that often helps improve care,” said Barter.

Dr. Barter continued to explain that her mission has been to apply this solution system-wide to start addressing maternal health equity.

“If you look at maternal mortality rates in the United States compared with most industrialized countries, we’re not doing so well. My state of New Jersey is ranked 47th,” she said.

Barter also expressed that group visits are another way to make a positive impact.

“The power of the group really does make an impact…it’s amazing in many different healthcare settings,” said Barter.

Hunterdon Hospital partners with Journey PX to provide patient engagement solutions to their patients. Dr. Barter has seen firsthand the positive impact of the maternal health education Journey PX provides to their patients, including Spanish-speaking patients.

“I know there are many patients who have said they watched them and learned from them. My goal is to make more patients aware of their Journey PX solutions early on so they can utilize them,” she said.

Dr. Barter also brings up Journey PX maternal health education for her patients in their room to view.

“I think it’s a great solution,” she said.

Journey PX also allows the education to be texted and emailed to patients after discharge so they can continue to access the vital health education they need.

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A vital aspect of pre and postnatal care is the provision of comprehensive health education, covering important topics such as breastfeeding, safe sleep practices, and recognizing post-birth warning signs. The effectiveness of this education is influenced not only by its content but also by the sources and delivery methods employed. In the context of the special needs of new mothers, infants, and families, it is crucial to have a patient engagement platform that caters specifically to their unique requirements.

With this recognition in mind, Journey PX has recently developed an innovative solution called Journey PX Mother Baby, which is tailored specifically for mother-baby units. This platform serves as a comprehensive resource, delivering essential health education, assisting parents and newborns in preparing for discharge, and ultimately enhancing the overall patient experience. By addressing the distinctive needs of this environment, Journey PX Mother Baby plays a significant role in promoting the well-being of both mothers and infants, facilitating a smooth transition into parenthood.

Additionally, Mother Baby is quick and easy to deploy and can be up and running in less than 6 weeks. It is also priced for individual units, with flexible payment options.To find out more about what Journey PX Mother Baby can do for your Mother Baby unit, schedule a free demo.

To hear more from Dr. Barter listen to her full PX Space interview with host Linda Robinson, MSN, CPXP, RN, below.

Written with the help of contributing author Linda Robinson, MSN,RN, CPXP, Vice President of Clinical Excellence at MDM Healthcare

In a recent podcast episode of PX Space, Linda Robinson, MSN, CPXP, RN, Vice President of Clinical Excellence, MDM Healthcare, had the opportunity to speak with Annamari Dietrichson, a healthcare leader and the Continental Division Vice President of Patient Experience at HCA Healthcare. Annamari, who is also the Owner/Founder of Authentic Health & Wellness and an executive health coach, shared invaluable insights on how healthcare professionals can not only survive but thrive in this new era. The conversation centered around cultivating a breakthrough mindset and its profound impact on both staff and patients.

The Importance of Patient Experience and Employee Engagement:

Dietrichson emphasized the significance of patient experience and employee engagement, particularly in today's chaotic healthcare environment. She pointed out that while implementing various tactics such as nurse leader rounding and bedside shift reports are essential, they are ineffective without a team that is genuinely enthusiastic about their job. Dietrichson firmly believes that investing time in employee engagement is crucial, as it triggers a domino effect that positively influences every aspect of care delivery.

The Power of Genuine Listening:
According to Dietrichson, truly listening to patients is paramount, even when following scripted procedures like nurse leader rounding. Engaging in meaningful conversations and demonstrating a genuine commitment to understanding the patient's perspective can make a world of difference in the quality of care provided.

Flourishing as a Healthcare Leader:
Healthcare leaders face tremendous stress as they lead teams working tirelessly in a 24/7, 365-day environment. Dietrichson highlighted the importance of not allowing this stress to reflect on staff interactions. This is where her work as a health coach becomes invaluable. By promoting self-care, cultivating a breakthrough mindset, and prioritizing energy restoration, healthcare leaders can flourish despite the challenges they face.

Embracing a Breakthrough Mindset:
Dietrichson stressed the significance of adopting a breakthrough mindset, which involves challenging limiting beliefs and negativity. Many healthcare professionals enter the field fueled by passion and purpose, only to experience burnout. Dietrichson believes it is the responsibility of every healthcare leader to discover ways to thrive and create a positive impact on their teams and patients.

Journey PX: Transforming Care Delivery:
Journey PX is passionate about helping care teams, partners with them to transform care delivery models. The cutting-edge, cloud-based platform offers solutions that streamline clinical workflows and alleviate non-clinical tasks, saving clinicians time. One of the platform’s solutions, My Stay, provides patients access to a comprehensive library of educational videos tailored to their specific health needs. Nurses can support patients by assigning them individualized education plans, empowering them to become more informed and proactive about their care. Additionally, Journey PX Connect enables nurses to securely connect with patients via video, enhancing access to care, saving time, and reducing exposure risks.

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Listen to the Full Podcast:
To delve deeper into Annamari Dietrichson's insights and expertise, tune in to the full PX Space podcast interview, available below.

Conclusion:
Discovering ways to thrive as a healthcare professional is essential in today's demanding environment. By embracing a breakthrough mindset, prioritizing patient experience and employee engagement, and taking care of their well-being, healthcare leaders can create positive transformations for their teams and provide exceptional care to their patients.

Written with contributing author Linda Robinson, MSN, CPXP, RN, Vice President of Clinical Excellence, MDM Healthcare

Childbirth is a transformative and empowering experience for mothers, but it can also be a challenging and overwhelming journey. Recently, Linda Robinson MSN, CPXP, RN Vice President of Clinical Excellence, MDM Healthcare spoke with Braidi Huecker, MD, OB-GYN on a PX Space podcast episode. The two discussed empowering expecting and new mothers with education about the childbirth process.

Dr. Huecker shared her insights on a variety of topics, including challenging stereotypes, birth positivity, and the importance of postpartum care.

“I think when patients come in during labor, or for their prenatal or postpartum visit they have this idea of how things should be, how the picture should look, how happy they should be, and what the background is going to look like. However real life is not Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest. Real life is way harder than a beautiful photo. It can be messy. I think that puts a lot of pressure on the mother and the partner,” she said.

She explained that she believes there should be a birth positivity movement, similar to the recent body positivity movement in American culture.

“We’re not all the same. Not all women are the same, so why can’t we have birth positivity? Why can’t we celebrate birth differences? We should be celebrating how wonderful it is that we have experienced the birth of our child.”

Dr. Huecker expressed the importance of challenging childbirth and pregnancy stereotypes because they only add pressure on new mothers.

“Patients come in and they have this plan, and birth plans are fantastic, but if something doesn’t go according to your birth plan, it’s important to remember that babies don’t read the textbook and that your birth story is unique. It’s a beautiful, wonderful moment and your baby is born however he or she needed to,” she said.

Dr. Huecker also provides advice for new mothers who may be struggling with breastfeeding. She explained that similar to birth stories, unhealthy stereotypes exist about breastfeeding that also put unnecessary pressure on new mothers. She emphasized that mothers should do the best they can to breastfeed as it is healthy for the baby, but not beat themselves up if they have trouble with it.

“Everybody is different, and every breast is different, so you don’t know until you try it,” she said.

In addition to breastfeeding, another challenge mothers face when returning home after birth is the possibility of having postpartum depression. She discussed the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression and the available resources to support mothers who are struggling.

“Postpartum depression is a huge risk and can lead to maternal suicide. One out of seven patients have postpartum depression,” she said.

Dr. Huecker again emphasized how important it is that mothers stop comparing themselves to maternal stereotypes. She also explained how important it is for them to ask for help, communicate their feelings, and practice self-care.

“Moms need breaks. They have their baby 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It’s okay for mothers to let a trusted person watch the baby for a few hours and go take some time for themselves. It’s not selfish, it’s important,” she said.

She said that it usually takes a year after birth for mothers to fully bounce back.

Another topic she discussed was the prevention of injury to the baby due to conditions such as SIDS or Shaken Baby Syndrome. Dr. Huecker learned the importance of safe sleep firsthand before she ever started medical school when her newborn brother had a SIDS scare.

“We know now based on research that laying a baby on his or her back is the best way for them to sleep and that the baby sleeps alone,” she said.

She also explained some key things to remember when it comes to preventing an accidental incident of shaken baby syndrome.

“Babies cry and if you are unable to get away from that crying and get frustrated you should step away. The best thing to do is to walk outside. You have to take a mental break and walk outside for a moment. I don’t mean leave the baby alone for a long period of time or ignore your baby, but if a mother gets frustrated or upset with a crying baby, it’s important that they put the baby down and get their aggression out elsewhere because that baby needs them to do the right thing,” she said.

Preventable actions can be taken to educate parents and caregivers about SIDS and shaken baby syndrome. Education from the right sources at the right time is a powerful preventative tool. Proper education from the right source can help set up new parents for success in dealing with childbirth issues discussed by Dr. Huecker such as safe sleep, post birth warning signs, and breastfeeding.

Journey PX Mother Baby is a solution designed specifically for mother-baby units, delivering vital health education, which research shows drives positive patient outcomes, right to their hospital room via their television set. Journey PX Mother Baby also prepares parents and newborns for discharge and enhances the overall patient experience. The solution is also quick and easy to deploy. To find out more about what Journey PX Mother Baby can do for your Mother Baby unit, schedule a free demo.

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You can hear more from Dr. Huecker’s interview with Linda Robinson, including personal stories about their own birth journeys, by listening to the PX Space podcast interview.

In a recent PX Space podcast interview, host Linda Robinson MSN, CPXP, RN, Vice President of Clinical Excellence, MDM Healthcare spoke with Dr. D.P. Suresh. Dr. Suresh is an interventional cardiologist and executive medical director of the Florence Wormald Heart & Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood, Kentucky. He is committed to helping patients reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Dr. Suresh outlined The American Heart Association’s eight simple things you can do to help lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. Dr. Suresh explains how the list is comprised of five things you can do to prevent risk, and three tests you can take.

1.Walk Everyday

2.Get A Good Night’s Sleep

3.Cut Out Red Meat and Sugar

4.Quit Smoking and Vaping

5. Keep Stress Levels Down

6. Track Your Cholesterol Levels

7.Check Your Blood for Sugar

8. Monitor Your Blood Pressure

Journey PX provides a variety of benefits for patients admitted into the hospital after a heart attack or stroke. Journey PX’s patient engagement solutions drive communication and crucial health education, even when clinicians are not in the room. The extensive library of patient education videos offered through the My Stay solution keeps heart and stroke patients informed and educated about their care throughout their hospital stay. The education library can be embedded in the EMR and can be automated or manually deployed based on stroke and or heart health risk factors, treatments, or diagnoses. It can even release engaging prompts to the TV to encourage the patient to watch the education! Once the education is completed, it can auto-document the completion and comprehension back into the EMR. In addition, Journey PX’s Connect solution allows for secure virtual rounding and provider visits. The combination of these features saves clinicians valuable time and steps and provides patients with a richer patient experience. My Stay also allows vital health education to be delivered via email and text upon discharge for both patients and their caregivers.

Journey PX is also designed to make sure that anything that goes on the Digital Whiteboard, My Day Today, is in a language patients can understand. “We never want patients to become frustrated with information they don’t understand or afraid to ask questions in the hospital,” said Robinson. She continued to explain that this philosophy extends to the videos Journey PX houses in the health education library, My Stay. Patients are best served by technology that is intuitive and easy to use. “If patients can use a TV remote, they can use the cloud-based patient engagement solution Journey PX.” It integrates with the hospital’s electronic medical record (EMR), so it displays accurate real-time plan of care information. Displaying information in this way engages the patient as an active participant in their care which has been shown to drive positive outcomes.

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To hear more from Dr. D.P. Suresh about the topic, listen to the full PX Space podcast interview below.

Written with contributing author Linda Robinson, MSN, CPXP, RN, Vice President of Clinical Excellence, MDM Healthcare

Dr. Jean Watson is a prominent nurse theorist who made significant contributions to nursing. Her theory of caring has been widely adopted and applied by nurses all over the world. Watson's Theory of Caring is a humanistic approach to nursing that emphasizes the importance of the nurse-patient relationship. According to Watson, caring is a fundamental component of nursing and involves a deep commitment to the well-being of the patient. It involves being present and attentive to the patient's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. The Theory of Caring has significant implications for nursing practice. It emphasizes the importance of the nurse-patient relationship, which is essential for the delivery of high-quality care. It also recognizes the importance of the patient's emotional and spiritual well-being, which is often overlooked in traditional medical care.

Watson has had a long, illustrious career both as a nurse and in academia, and has authored over 30 books on caring. She has been recognized with a myriad of prestigious awards including being recently inducted as a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing, its highest honor. She currently serves as the Founder and Director of a non-profit foundation, Watson Caring Science Institute.

Recently, nurse thought leader Linda Robinson, MSN, CPXP, RN, VP of Clinical Excellence at MDM Healthcare, interviewed Dr. Watson for an episode of our podcast PX Space.

Watson shared her thoughts about the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic. “It’s been a wakeup call for all of us, at the personal level at the institutional level, and at the societal level because it has put a spotlight on all the difficulties that nurses have experienced across time in terms of their commitment, their dedication, values, philosophical orientation toward humanity and caring and health for all. Yet the institutions have been structured around economics and control, “fix it” models of medical intervention at all costs,” she said. Watson said the result of this has been an awakening about the critical importance of human connection in patient care.

Watson also referred to the COVID 19 pandemic as a “living metaphor” for a worldview shift structured around the philosophy of the interconnectedness of humanity. Watson explained that this shift is forcing institutions to pay attention to humanized care models.

She also explained that hospital administrators must understand they are responsible for providing nurses with a healing environment.

The innovative cloud-based patient experience platform Journey PX supports Watson’s mission to humanize care by partnering with providers to enrich the patient experience.

“We talk about value-based care, but real value can be found in the relationships nurses create with their patients,” said Robinson. Journey PX aids in the interoperability between technology and hospital care teams by allowing them to offload non-clinical tasks, and create lean workflows, allowing them to have more time for intimate connection with patients at the bedside.

Robinson reflected on her conversation with Watson. “Caring begins with being present, as Dr. Watson so eloquently expressed. We know that caring improves patient outcomes. As discussed, it is difficult to be present with our patients in this post-pandemic chaotic healthcare landscape of overstressed, demanding workplaces. Nurses are dealing with the effects of nursing shortages, an experience complexity gap, and an overwhelming list of tasks,” she said.

Robinson expressed that the important question to address is how care organizations can assist nurses by giving them more time at the bedside. “At Journey PX we are dedicated to working with nurses and organizations on utilizing patient engagement technology that is high touch, high tech,” she said.

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You can hear more from Dr. Watson’s intimate discussion with Linda Robinson, including her thoughts on the nursing shortage, nurse rounding and more by listening to the PX Space podcast interview.

To view more information on the Watson Caring Science Institute, including the programs they offer nurses, visit their website.

Written with contributing author Linda Robinson, MSN, CPXP, RN, Vice President of Clinical Excellence, MDM Healthcare

As the healthcare industry becomes increasingly focused on improving patient experiences, the role of a Patient Experience Liaison has become increasingly important. This individual serves as a bridge between patients and healthcare providers, helping to ensure that patients' needs are met and their voices are heard. A Patient Experience Liaison can play a critical role in enhancing the quality of care and overall satisfaction of patients, as well as fostering a culture of empathy and patient-centeredness within healthcare organizations. Recently, we spoke about the topic with Lisa Gilliam, RN, MSN, CPXP, who works as a Nurse Supervisor at Redlands Community Hospital.

Gilliam, who worked as a Patient Experience Liaison for 6 years, talks about the importance of paying stressed the importance of paying attention to patients' unique needs.

“Patients just really want to be heard, they want to know you care. Getting down to that eye level of the patient and taking that moment, even if it’s a couple minute can really change the perspective of that patient’s experience, and the family’s experience,” she said.

Gilliam also discussed how she has implemented systems to address patients' feedback to create new initiatives that addressed pressing patient problems concerning lost belongings and night-time quietness.

In addition, Gilliam highlighted her work with the Beryl Institute. “Beryl Institute has amazing resources on their website, whitepapers and videos. I learned so much for them that I eventually decided that I wanted to be a part of the Beryl Institute so I joined their patient advisory committee,” she said.

Gilliam explained that her role allows her to aid everyone inside the hospital room. “I get to help the patient, I get to help the family and I get to help the nurse. It’s really about educating that patient and filling those gaps that we didn’t fill at the bedside,” she said.

The philosophy Gilliam describes concerning the healing power of a rich patient experience is the idea that powers the Journey PX brand. Our innovative patient engagement platform is uniquely designed to elevate your PX while eliminating work for your nurses and other key staff.

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Journey PX solutions close gaps in communication by keeping patients informed of their daily plan of care, and streamlining communications between patients, families, and care teams. They also empower patients by providing individualized education and engagement tools. Journey PX allows hospital organizations to hard-wire bedside shift reports, saving clinicians steps and time.

Journey PX’s digital whiteboard, My Day Today, provides vital information to hospital care teams, patients, and their families. My Stay provides patients with the education they need via access to an extensive education library. This allows patients to become more empowered through health literacy and enhances their readiness for discharge. It also helps support patients after discharge by providing education that can be texted to them. Journey PX’s virtual care solution, Connect, enables video calling for patients and families. It also provides a secure connection that allows for virtual visits and rounding by hospital care teams, all through the TV in the patient’s room.

To hear more from Lisa Gilliam including her thoughts on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and more listen to the full PX Space podcast interview below.

By Ashton Elder and Linda Robinson, MSN, CPXP, RN, Vice President of Clinical Excellence, MDM Healthcare

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