UTMB Dermatology Residents Initiate Interdisciplinary Meetings with Dermatology Nursing and Staff

In November 2012 UTMB dermatology residents met with dermatology nurses and clinic staff for the purpose of improving patient safety and improving the quality of dermatology care in the UTMB dermatology clinics in Galveston (University Hospital Clinic) and League City (Bay Colony). Nurse James Wilson coordinated the meeting in Galveston and Nurse Jennifer Tribble organized the meeting in League City. UTMB dermatology nurses, residents, and staff plan to meet periodically during each academic year at these sites to discuss clinic issues and develop action plans to improve patient safety and improve the quality of dermatology care in our clinics. Participant attendance is recorded at each meeting in a site notebook. The first patient safety/quality improvement plan is to make digital photographs of skin biopsy sites suspected for skin cancer available to faculty and residents if the biopsy site cannot be confirmed by the patient and additional treatment is needed. This process could decrease the risk of wrong site surgery and may result in more efficient treatment. The outcome of this project will be monitored and feedback will be provided.