Think Outside the Box
What can you do when you run into a situation that you can't find a answer for? Everything you try fails? Others who try may have the same failures. Then someone comes up with one off the wall idea that solves the problem.
This past week the catch phrase around the clinic was "Think outside the box". After running into a couple of different situations that one or more of us could not find the best answer for, we found ourselves openly discussing solutions among the team. This always led to lots of suggestions, although many had been tried. The discussion would cover all the "normal" solutions, and then seem to drift off into some unusual methods. Many times this would spark someone's thoughts and they would come up with an idea so unconventional, yet so simple, it was like a "duh" moment for the rest of us.
Anyway, we started saying this after we ran into a problem when a piece of equipment failed. As much as it put us in a semi-emergency state at the time, it's a funny story now, and proves that thinking outside the box can solve problems. Using the electric Hoyer lift to return a resident to bed, all was going well, until with the resident suspended just touching the bed the unit failed and refused to lower further. The first procedure for the lift in this situation called for use of the power emergency release. With several staff positioned to assist, the button was pushed. Nothing. Pushed again, nothing. The next procedure was to use the mechanical release, and once more with all ready it was pulled. Nothing happened again. The lift was stuck in this position and would not move in either direction. We all stood there wondering how we were going to get the Hoyer to lower this person back down to the bed. Many ideas were being discussed when the resident spoke up and said "can't you raise the bed up to me?" DUH! Everyone was so focused on getting the lift to lower that no one considered raising the bed!
Another situation we ran into was trying to increase resistance of a specific arm exercise, but due to the person's medical condition could not easily see how to accomplish it. Weights and exercise band had to be ruled out as solutions due to a rotator cuff tear and a mid-back injury. Again, a little discussion and someone suggested gravity. DUH! Again, we were so focused on resistance via weight or force we forgot to think outside the box.
(Did some of you already have answers before reading these entire paragraphs? You must be the ones who already think outside of the box!)
Things like this must happen in many clinics every day. Simple discussion between team members can usually lead to a successful solution for many problems you may encounter. And don't be afraid to think outside the box!
Until next time, hope all your thoughts are good,
Tim