Today, our IS Caregiver Experience Committee highlights some great work being done by Washington & Montana region Clinical Informatics (CI) to support both the delivery of the Mission Integration Program within their team, as well as the caregivers who have stepped up to facilitate it.
Within that region of Clinical Informatics, the Mission Integration Program (MIP) is delivered in a combined group, with Ambulatory and Acute joining.
The executive sponsor for this MIP effort in WA/MT CI is exec. director, Paula Cleanthous, who sought volunteers to facilitate monthly meetings, using the curriculum provided by Sister Susanne Hartung. Sister Susanne’s patience and grace through the launching of this program were noted as key factors for success.
There has been an exciting process of discovery for many caregivers that have participated in MIP—namely, what exactly the program is about.
A key discovery of some newer caregivers in this CI group has been that MIP is not a “bible study group,” as initially thought by some caregivers. It is a program that is inclusive of all beliefs and focuses on Providence’s commitment to serve the poor and vulnerable, which resonates with many despite differences in background.
What is notable about the MIP program with Clinical Informatics groups in Washington/Montana, is how the teams have taken off and ran with the material, autonomously, their willingness to learn more, and their high level of engagement with the material and fellow team members.
“What was so pleasing for me as a leader was to see them own this. It filled my cup, hearing what it meant to them, how it changed them… how it helped these caregivers see how they could fit with the Mission,” says Paula.
Josh Hindman, CI specialist and an MIP facilitator, shares that, “MIP is about putting themes like helping the poor and vulnerable together with things we should be doing every single day. Our Mission and heritage is very evident at Providence; people are always willing to dive in and help when others are in need.”
As the MIP curriculum completes, groups are wanting to continue. There is also excitement and interest in doing MIP activities in-person, post-pandemic.
For WA/MT CI, MIP has acted as a team-builder, grounding caregivers and providing a much-needed space to socialize and interact (virtually) during these work from home times.
Best practices from WA/MT CI that other teams might consider applying to their own MIP adoption:
- MIP facilitators set their own schedules for curriculum
- Attendance for MIP was voluntary.
- Quarterly check-ins occurred with MIP facilitators and senior leadership.
- Mission in the various service areas have given support along the way.
If you’re part of an IS or RESO team trying to adopt the MIP curriculum in your group, feel free to reach out to any of the caregivers behind this MIP work in WA/MT CI:
- Mel Flesland, sr. manager, Epic Applications Support
- Paula Cleanthous, exec. director, WA/MT Regional Nursing Clinical Informatics
- Josh Hindman, specialist, Clinical Informatics
- John Lee, PM, IS Caregiver Experience Committee