LLUMC Nurses Selected For National Quality Care Study

Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) is one of 15 health systems in the country selected to participate in a national study that will potentially enhance patient safety and quality of care in health systems across the nation.

Registered nurse Dr. Ellen D’Errico PhD, an associate professor of nursing at Loma Linda University School of Nursing and the principal investigator on the study, is leading the team of LLUMC nurses in the national research collaborative for the Improvement Science Research Network (ISRN) landmark study, “Small Troubles Adaptive Responses (STAR-2): Frontline Nurse Engagement in Quality Improvement.”

Dr. D’Errico and her team are investigating operational problems that frontline nurses encounter on a daily basis, such as missing supplies, non-functioning equipment and failed communication. The study will allow for a better understanding of how these small problems hinder patient safety and quality of care. LLUMC will use this opportunity to fill the gap in strategies that connect frontline staff with organizational learning for quality and patient safety.

"Selection as a site for STAR-2 was by competitive application,” Dr. D’Errico stated. “No doubt, Loma Linda was selected because of the strong partnership between the medical center nursing staff and School of Nursing faculty. We believe this is just the beginning of some wonderful, collaborative research efforts that the nursing staff and nurse researchers will be involved within the years to come."

Launched in October 2011, this landmark study and will continue through April 2012. As part of this ISRN Research Collaborative, nurses at LLUMC will work on the scientific team to provide the evidence necessary to implement change within the healthcare organization to provide care that is safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient-centered.

Loma Linda University Medical Center was selected from a national pool of applicants to participate in this Research Collaborative along with 15 other sites. The multisite, national basis of the study greatly strengthens the validity and accuracy of the study findings. The application process and high interest in the ISRN Research Collaborative highlights the need for quality improvement research and shared vision of improving patient safety.