O C T O B E R 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 2 9
Don't leave dirty dishes in the break room sink. That's just one of
the elements listed on the behavioral charter every staff member
at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's surgery center
must sign as a condition of employment. The charter, which is
based on the health system's core values — listening to and car-
ing for patients, health plan members, fellow employees, physi-
cians and the community — also notes other ways to be a good
teammate, including:
• Front desk workers must always make eye contact and intro-
duce themselves to patients and their family members during the
check-in process.
• Perioperative staff should ensure patient care areas are clean
and uncluttered, including being free of extra supplies and trash.
They must secure patients' personal belongings in labeled bags,
place the bags in lockers and keep privacy doors to pre- and post-
op rooms closed to decrease patients' exposure to excess noise
and unnecessary disturbances.
• All staff members should put things in their proper places,
restock supply areas as needed, empty trash cans when full and
wipe up spills in the break room. They must also be conscientious
users of social media and maintain staff confidentiality when
posting on the various platforms. — Daniel Cook
CLEAR EXPECTATIONS
Create a Pact of Professionalism
faction score in our health system's ambulatory care areas.
OSM
Ms. Jones (jonessl@upmc.edu) is an improvement specialist II of safety and
innovation at the University of Pittsburg (Pa.) Medical Center Shadyside.
