IHI.org - A resource from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement
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Leadership:
Designate an Executive Sponsor for Spread
The executive sponsor is responsible for providing overall guidance to the spread team, identifying and addressing system issues that can either facilitate or impede the spread process, keeping the executive leadership group apprised of the progress of the spread initiative, and serving as an advocate for the improvements at all levels of the organization.
Tips
It may be helpful for the executive sponsor to be responsible for the areas within the organization where the changes will be made as part of the spread effort (e.g., outpatient services, medical-surgical units). If the topic to be spread is a clinical one, a senior physician or nurse senior leader should be designated as the executive sponsor or should work closely with the executive sponsor. This aligns the clinical and operational structure and provides unified leadership for spread.