Overview of One Standard

One Standard is a method and a collection of new tools that are integrated with established tools to support sustainable improvements in healthcare in low-resource areas. All One Standard tools and templates can be customized to fit the situation. One Standard focuses on safety. In the Roadmap the processes that can cause the most harm are corrected first using the ten step method. Other corrections follow using the same method. 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 safe patient care 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, more consistant care, and the capacity to predict future needs based on patient volume. 

Improvements begin with assessments. In One Standard assessment tools, data collected from a hospital or healthcare facility is entered into a computer program that analyzes the data and creates reports. These reports show standards, what was found at the site, and what is needed to achieve standards. It also give the site a % score that shows how the site compares to standards. The assessment is a positive tool clearly showing the starting point and the goal at each point of  care. Additionally, multiple reports can be used to track improvements over time.

One Standard tools include corrective, advancement, and educational tools to achieve and maintain goals. A hospital or facility following the Roadmap can choose to use either the One Standard tools or external tools, but a correction and maintenance plan is needed for every identified inadequate action, item, and step.

One Standard focuses on only a few events at a time, which allows for staff to process changes and adapt in small increments at a time. When the processes relating to one event are fixed, another event where patients may be harmed is identified and focused on.  This focused and cyclic method to improve care is continued until all healthcare processes are standardized. Staff quickly learn the steps involved in each process and the importance of their role. This repetitive pattern reassures staff and prepares them for the next improvement cycle. It makes ongoing improvements seamless and consistent. Quality and increasing efficiency begin immediately upon starting this process. The greatest decrease in morbidity and mortality occurs at the beginning of this process, which inspires continuing improvements. Once patient care at a hospital or facility is close to or at the standards of care, then care is ready to move to a higher level.