I’m back at FAME the rural Tanzania hospital that sets standards for patient care.
My first two weeks I met with each nurse supervisor on support for operationalizing their department’s goals. As always they were super engaged and attentive.
These are my favorite quotes from the week!
Siana ER: Thank you for waking up my brain!
Christopher Surgical Ward: I’m like a sleeping dog. You reach down, shake me and say WAKE UP!
INTERDEPENDENCE FAME’S SUPERPOWER
FAME fantastic! Last week management took a deep dive into updates on the 2022 to 2027 strategic priorities. We started with something I’m calling the FAME Rely-o-sphere. It’s one of the things that makes this hospital purr! Everyone, no matter the role they play, sees their importance to the mission – care of patients. They trust and rely on each other – true organizational alignment!
working session
THIS WEEK EXAMPLES OF RELY – o-sphere
Unlike home, patient and family waiting areas are outside. It’s beautiful here. (A cold day in low 70’s everyone breaks out their down jackets!)
Due to their focus on quality improvement FAME has become a destination of choice for care in this region. Patient census has increased, as has patient wait times.
Concern about patient satisfaction was at the top of the list of topics that departments wanted to address last year. It was reception, cashiers, pharmacy who had windows facing the waiting area and wanted to know how to help. Their empathy resulted in great ideas and my favorite ethic – collaboration!
A NICE RECEPTION
When I arrived this year I saw that reception has not stopped innovating. In addition to new signage, Mary now has an “ask me” desk in the middle of the waiting area. It is complete with a computer which allows her to inform patients of their approximate wait time and answer questions. A television plays ongoing education to support medical and public health challenges.
Mary
STAYING GROUNDED
FAME grounds here are beautiful, healing and so very clean. I tell the grounds keepers that they are mental health healers. With great pride and care Bernard is busy working when I head to my morning meetings. Monday I found him raking the parking lot before it was filled with bajajis, boda bodas, buses and cars. Wednesday he carefully trimmed the beautiful plants near the waiting area and proceeded to clean the sidewalk, as if, in preparation for a royal family!
Every year I’m in awe of the housekeeping and groundskeeping staff. This hospital is spotless and beautiful!
Bernard
POWERFUL PARNTERSHIP
The FAME diabetes clinic, is a partnership between Dr. Omary and Nutritionists Nurse Jacob. They treat food as medicine and the FAME organic garden is their pharmacy.
I was not surprised by their review of clinic goals and the amount they focused on healthy diet. We discussed that veggies can taste like mush if not cooked with flare. It felt good to recommend an additional partner, the kitchen staff who cook my evening meals. They deliver perfectly cooked veggies with sautéed garlic and onions. At lunch they serve a kind of homemade hot sauce called pele pele – DElish! Who better to provide cooking lessons for the diabetes clinic? Cooks, gardeners, doctor and nurse nutritionist – it is a powerful team to fight against chronic disease.
Omary and Jacob
Where in the world are you Diane? 