This is the third book in a series designed to widely share innovations in patient care. This book includes improvement strategies selected by two leaders at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). These approaches are reliable, innovative, ready for implementation, and have been tested and used successfully. Each chapter provides a description of the strategy, an example of the strategy in practice, and, in most cases, the results that have been achieved when the strategy was applied.

Ideas explored in this book include:

Examining and redesigning the discharge process to cover gaps in care Improving patients’ “health literacy” to eliminate confusion about medical instructions and provide needs-appropriate care Implementing WalkRounds to identify and address safety issues Establishing “red rules”—three to four key behaviors that staff must follow to ensure safety Using innovative approaches to detect early signs of patient distress