Overview of One Standard

One Standard is a method, the Roadmap, and a collection of new tools that are integrated with established tools to support sustainable improvements in healthcare in resource limited areas.  One Standard tools and templates can be customized to fit the situation.  One Standard focuses on safety for staff, patients, and in processes.  In the Roadmap the processes that can cause the most harm are corrected first using the Roadmap and by following its design axioms.  The design axioms fit the data into tools that make corrections easier and sustainable.  Other corrections follow using the same process.  Patient harm is more likely when healthcare processes are unsafe, which occurs when just one of its required actions, items, or steps are not in compliance with safety standards.  Processes are made safer by standardization which leads to not only decreased patient harm and efficient use of resources but also higher employee satisfaction, and more consistant care.

Improvements begin with strategically designed assessments that can be modified from One Standard templates.  When data collected from a hospital or healthcare facility is entered into the computer program the data is analysed and a report is generated immediately.  Reports show standards, what was found at the site, and what is needed to achieve standards.  It also give the site a % score for related items that shows how the site compares to standards.  Because the assessments are designed to group related items together, they become a part of the correction and are used to make checklists, purchase requests, and more.

Assessment here clearly showing the starting point and the goal at each point of  care.  Additionally, because of their simplicity assessments can used to track improvements over time.

One Standard tools include corrective, advancement, and educational tools to achieve and maintain goals.  They include Perioperative and EECC-ABCs assessments (Essential emergency and critical care assessment related to:Airway, breathing, circulation, and shock).  Forecasting tools that calculate items needed based on volume, and teaching videos. like using the pulse oximeter: using it correctly and to its full potential.

One Standard focuses on only a corrections at a time. This is doable but not overwhelming and allows staff to incorporate changes into routines.  When one processes is fixed another is chosen for correction using the Roadmap.  This repetitive process  is continued until the site has reached standards of care everywhere.  Staff quickly learn the steps in the process and their role.  Each Roadmap cycle not only prepares staff for the next cycle but it makes ongoing improvements seamless and consistent. 

Safety increases immediately followed by quality and efficiency.  The greatest decrease in morbidity and mortality occurs in the first few Roadmap cycles. This inspires continuing improvements. Once a hospital or facility is close to or at the standards of care, then care is ready to move to a higher level.