Basic Knowledge Sharing: Saving Lives

OK. Perhaps the title is a little dramatic, but if you take a look at today’s blog post from Dr. John D. Halamka you’ll have a quick lesson in the basics (and the rewards) of KD/KS, that knowledge development/knowledge sharing we speak about so much.

A Japanese Starbucks Model for Healthcare Quality describes the simplest of ideas for ensuring that a specific order placed at Starbucks is implemented correctly throughout the order-delivery process. Dr. Halamka’s good idea is to apply the framework for dispensing medications.

Reading his thoughts, I was struck by what a neat KD/KS example this is: the knowledge is “developed” when the customer describes their specific formulation for what the order is to be (in this case vegan – soy – Green Tea Latte) and the sharing – obviously mechanical through electronic capture when the order was placed – follows through the process, even to the extent of having an electronic “verification” that the order is correct, all from beginning to end of the order and delivery process.

Dr. Halamka suggests applying the principle to medication verification in hospitals. Sounds to me like an idea whose time has come.

And the pay-off? Well, it just can’t be calculated. Whether it’s preventing an allergic reaction to the wrong kind of contents of a commercial drink or avoiding a catastrophic reaction with an improper medication dosage, the ROI is there. It’s built in.