On August 9, five individuals in our Consortium completed the CHI Change Agents course. Peggy Larson, Lisbon Area Health Services; Chris Schroeder, Carrington Health Center; Tammy Gernholtz and Ann Sherlock, Mercy, Valley City; and Diane Weispfenning, Consortium, were trained in the processes.
Change Agent training originated with the General Electric Company and has been adopted by CHI to accelerate the change process within our various facilities. Change Agents are trained and equipped with tools for facilitation and coaching to help groups make and accept change in an accelerated format. The two modules in which change agents are trained are the Change Acceleration Process (CAP), which focuses on acceptance of the idea and accountability of the implementation and Work-Out which adds quality of the solutions to acceptance and accountability.
The Change Acceleration Process or CAP involves leading change of systems and structures by a team approach to:
- Creating a Shared Need
- Shaping a Vision
- Mobilizing Commitment
- Making change last and
- Monitoring Progress
Work-Out is used when there is a defined problem; the scope is manageable, when knowledge to solve the problem already exists in people’s heads that work in the process and the answer is not known. Potential sample topics that may be appropriate for Work-Out include:
- Clinical documentation
- Equipment tracking
- Follow-up on orders in the ED
- Test results availability on charts
- Improved employee access to information
- Sufficient linens to meet patient care needs
Managers and leaders in the organization may call upon Change Agents to visit and determine if a Work-Out, a CAP process, or facilitated meeting may be appropriate. It is better when the change agent is not involved in the processes that are being changed and simply fulfills the role of facilitator. Rick Failing, Les Wietstock, Diane Weispfenning, Mariann Doeling, Mary Ellen Frey, Don Kapfer and Bryan Beckedahl have been trained to be a CAP and/or Work-Out Sponsor.
If you are asked to serve on a CAP or Work Out team, or if you are a manager in need to implementing a change, please consider serving and utilizing this proven process.
