Funded by the Macy Foundation, Relating Across Differences - An Improvement Process for Clinical Units uses principles of relational coordination to build relationships across professional and social identity differences, embedded in quality improvement. It is led by Olawale Olaleye, MA, MBA, BPharm, Jody Hoffer Gittell, PhD, and Anthony Suchman, MD, MA, with implementation occurring over a 3-year period in three sites including Cleveland Clinic/Case Western Reserve University, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the University of Washington Medical Center.
Project Sites
Cleveland Clinic/Case Western Reserve University
At Cleveland Clinic/CWRU, Relating Across Differences “is consistent with our goal of promoting diversity, equity and belonging in the healthcare sector. For example, we include the RC approach in our onboarding requirements, and the RAD diversity intervention will build on that foundation. It also aligns with existing programs implemented by the Office of Interprofessional Learning at Cleveland Clinic and is synergistic with the improvements we have already implemented based on the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion in addition to interprofessional care.”
Tyler Reimschisel, MD, MHPE; Founding Associate Provost, Interprofessional and Interdisciplinary Education and Research; Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic
Cecile Foshee, PhD; Director of GME Learning Innovation; Co-Director, Office of Interprofessional Learning, Education Institute; Cleveland Clinic
Elias Traboulsi, MD, MED; Head of the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology Institute; Co-Director, Office of Interprofessional Learning, Education Institute, Cleveland Clinic
Chiedozie Udeh, MBBS, MHEcon, MBA, FCC, FCCM, FASA Director, ICU Operations, Cleveland Clinic Health System; Medical Director, eHospital, Cleveland Clinic Health System
Massachusetts General Hospital
At Massachusetts General Hospital, Relating Across Differences “is consistent with our goals of 1) promoting interprofessional collaborative practice and education and 2) advancing diversity, equity, and belonging in the healthcare sector… In collaboration with the MGH Institute of Health Professions, we have implemented a model on three acute care clinical units, called Interprofessional Dedicated Units (IPDEUs). On the IPDEU’s, students from different professions (nursing, medicine, OT, PT, SLP, PA, and genetic counseling) collaborate as they build new knowledge and gain insight into the role of the team in the delivery of patient-centered care.” The RAD intervention takes this work a step further.
Gaurdia Banister, RN, PhD, NEA-BC, FAAN; Executive Director, The Institute for Patient Care Director, The Yvonne L. Munn Center for Nursing Research; Connell-Jones Endowed Chair for Nursing and Patient Care Research
University of Washington Medical Center
At University of Washington Medical Center, Relating Across Differences “is consistent with our goal of promoting IPCP and DEI in the practice environment, [building] on a recently completed 4-year study to improve relational coordination among two advanced heart failure units [here]. We were able to demonstrate an improvement in communication and relationships, as well as patient satisfaction and nurse satisfaction, following an intervention comprised of team training, workflow improvement, and leadership development… We will now use the same RC principles to become a more diverse and inclusive environment.”
Kevin D. O’Brien, MD, Professor of Medicine, University of Washington (UW); Inpatient Cardiology Service Director, Cardiology ICUs; Medical Director, UW Medical Center