Falls don’t just happen at home or in the hospital. In busy ambulatory clinics, patients can stumble in waiting rooms, hallways, and exam rooms with serious consequences.

In this episode of Key In to Quality, vice chair of Quality Tim Morgenthaler, M.D., talks with Steven Kochan, D.N.P., R.N., chair of the Rochester Fall Injury Prevention Subcommittee for Ambulatory Practice, and Lloyd Speer, manager in Midwest Practice Administration and subcommittee co-chair.

The conversation highlights measurable reductions in falls and injuries, a strong reporting culture, and next steps that include using artificial intelligence and video monitoring to identify risk even earlier. Listeners will come away with practical advice on where to start, who to engage, and how small, intentional changes can make outpatient care safer for every patient, every day.

#outpatientfalls #keyintoquality #patientfalls #outpatientsafety #fallprevention

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

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Can we prevent bathroom falls without losing privacy? Hospital bathrooms are among the riskiest places for inpatient falls...and also the most personal. In this episode of Key in to Quality, Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Allyson Palmer, Amberly Hess, and Cari Guttormson unpack a new initiative designed to prevent bathroom-related falls without sacrificing privacy or independence. The team walks through practical inclusion criteria, use of nurse judgment, and how electronic health record tools and artificial intelligence may eventually support real-time risk identification.

#mayokeyintoquality

Hosted by Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D., and Sheri Nemec.

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

Guests: Allyson Palmer, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/allyson-palmer/
Amberly Hess
Cari Guttormson

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

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What if every patient had a built-in safety partner? In this episode of Key in to Quality, Safe Patient Handling Coordinator Kelly Drilling explains merging fall prevention and handling into one safety mobility champion role. Frontline champion Marissa Cocker describes day-to-day impact on a neurosurgery floor, helping patients mobilize sooner and guiding colleagues on the right equipment.

The team uses the Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool to tailor safe movement plans, while quarterly champion events build skills with data, hands-on training, and practical communication tactics. Safe Mobility Champions show how early, supported mobility improves outcomes and how language, leadership, and the right tools make safety a shared practice.

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

Guests: Kelly Drilling
Marissa Cocker

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

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In this episode of Key In to Quality, Dr. Laura Breeher and nurse administrator Paul Lorentz share how Mayo Clinic integrated safe patient handling and falls prevention into one multidisciplinary structure that serves patients and employees alike.

The conversation explores scaling for smaller hospitals, engaging non-nursing roles like transport staff, and designing future care environments (from flooring to lighting) to reduce risk. With patient acuity rising, the team emphasizes continuous improvement, new technology adoption, and celebrating wins (not just investigating injuries). Their advice: find passionate champions and build supportive infrastructure. This is an episode you don’t want to miss.

#mayokeyintoquality @DrTimMorg #fallsprevention #safemobility

Guest Social: (28) Paul Lorentz, MS, MSN, BBA, RN, RD | LinkedIn

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

#mayokeyintoquality

Safety Huddles and Visual Management: A Creative Fusion for Healthcare Culture of Safety

How can healthcare teams strengthen communication and create a safer environment for patients and staff alike? In this episode of Key In to Quality, hosts Dr. Tim Morgenthaler and Sheri Nemec are joined by Dr. Charles (Chase) Sims, chair of the Rochester Quality Subcommittee at Mayo Clinic, to explore how tiered huddles and visual management boards are driving meaningful culture change.

Born from challenges revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic, these structured daily practices give staff a consistent, transparent way to voice safety concerns and see them addressed. Dr. Sims shares the evolution of Mayo Clinic’s approach, from early resistance to growing staff ownership, and the surprising fellowship that emerged from these morning gatherings. Listeners will hear lessons learned, implementation challenges, and practical advice for organizations ready to begin their own journey toward a stronger safety culture.

#safetyhuddles #mayokeyintoquality

Hosted by Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D., and Sheri Nemec.

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

Guest: (31) Charles Sims | LinkedIn

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

#mayokeyintoquality

In this second installment of Key In to Quality’s sepsis series, we turn the spotlight on Mayo Clinic Florida. Sepsis, which affects 1.7 million Americans each year, demands rapid recognition and treatment—yet delays remain common and deadly.

Devang Sanghavi, M.D. and Kristine Thompson, M.D. detail how their team tackled the challenge by combining artificial intelligence with human expertise. Their approach pairs highly sensitive AI “sepsis sniffers” with clinician validation to minimize false alarms while ensuring no patient slips through the cracks. Supported by a dynamic electronic checklist and real-time feedback, care teams can act quickly and confidently at the bedside.

Listeners will gain practical insights on building a strong multidisciplinary team, integrating technology without disrupting workflow, and sustaining momentum to deliver safer, more equitable sepsis care.

Guests: Devang Sanghavi, MD, MHA, FCCP | https://www.linkedin.com/in/devang-sanghavi-md-mha-fccp-6779415/

Kristine Thompson, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-thompson-2403a12b/

#mayokeyintoquality @DrTimMorg #sepsiscare

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

#mayokeyintoquality

In this episode of Key in to Quality, we hear from the leaders behind the CARES initiative (Champions Advancing Racial Equity in Sepsis), a national effort tackling long-standing disparities in sepsis care. Black and Latinx patients are more likely to experience delays in treatment and worse outcomes, including higher mortality. CARES is working to change that through coalition-based leadership and data-driven strategies aimed at improving equity in care.

Dr. Erika Linnander and Dr. Leslie Curry from Yale School of Public Health, along with Dr. Steven Simpson from the University of Kansas, Sepsis Alliance Chair, share how shifting organizational culture through focused leadership, inclusive coalitions, and smarter data integration can help move the needle. They highlight early wins, common barriers, and practical advice for systems ready to begin their own equity work.

If you’re focused on healthcare quality, patient safety, or equity, this is a thoughtful and insightful conversation worth a listen.

#mayokeyintoquality @DrTimMorg #EndSepsis #SepsisAlliance #WorldSepsisDay #SepsisAwarenessMonth

Guests: Erika Linnander, DrPH, M.B.A | https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikalinnander/

Leslie Curry, PhD, M.P.H. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-curry-yale/

Steve Simpson, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-simpson-92279712/

CARES video

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

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In Part 2 of our delirium-focused series, Key in to Quality returns to Mayo Clinic Arizona, where a startling statistic revealed that two-thirds of workplace assaults involved confused patients. Behind the numbers were moments of staff trauma and missed care opportunities. This episode follows the multidisciplinary team that turned insight into action: creating a Kaizen event, developing practical tools, and embedding delirium prevention into everyday workflows.

Heidi Lindroth, M.D. shares her research on delirium, while Jennifer Sweilem, M.S.N., R.N. and Nicole Lies walk us through their powerful implementation journey. Discover how deliberate quality improvement efforts led to better patient care, increased delirium detection, and fewer incidents of workplace violence.

Whether you're starting small or scaling system-wide, this episode offers actionable strategies and inspiration to improve safety, empathy, and quality care.

Host: Timothy Morgenthaler, M.D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/timorgenthaler/

Host: Sheri Nemec| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sheri-nemec-a627982a/

#mayokeyintoquality