If there’s one word that can be used to describe the practice of medicine in Corpus Christi, it is Transformation.

There’s the physical evidence of transformation right on the campus of CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Shoreline. It would be hard to miss the creation of some 420,000 square feet of new space. Space that will house the very best in pioneering programs including trauma, cardiac care and clinical excellence. Corpus Christi hasn’t seen this sort of private development in years and it is being met with a lot of excitement as the hospital’s high caliber staff and affiliated physicians can’t wait to get in and begin to work in this new space and serve the community needs.

While this is taking place, there’s been a whole other design team at work.

Nurses, including mostly front-line staff, began looking into ways to create a successful care delivery model. CHRISTUS Spohn nurses treat a unique patient population, so empowering nurses to innovate and come up with solutions that work for them became key to the transformation.

They held a series of design sessions over a period of months to look closely at how CHRISTUS Spohn could transform nursing. They began by looking at the type of model that would meet the needs of future nursing, productivity, quality, positive patient engagement and communication.

Research shows that when patients are engaged in their health care, it can lead to measurable improvements in safety and quality.

To promote stronger engagement, CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital-Shoreline launched a pilot program in which important initiatives such as Bedside Shift Reporting and Nurse Leader Rounding would become the new norm.

Through our bedside shift report initiative, we involve the patient and family to ensure a safe hand-off between nurses at every shift change.

CHRISTUS Spohn is focused on improving the experience patients have when they interact with different parts of the health care system including leaders and managers who often work behind the scenes. Nurse leaders rounding with patients is one of the evidence-based practices that improve ratings from patients regarding their care experience.

“The initial feedback from the collaborative clinical team has been overwhelmingly positive,” explained Gary DiPersi, RN, BSN, MBAHA, FACHE, CENP, CHRISTUS Health’s System Director, Nursing Operations and Performance Improvement.  “Our nurses have have more time to spend with our patients, talking with, walking with them and coordinating their care. Patients have also noticed the difference and the increased amount of time and attention they receive.”

Nursing in Corpus Christi is undergoing a major transformation.

Because of these nurses’ extraordinary knowledge and skill, nursing professionals at CHRISTUS Spohn are more than well-equipped to address the physical aspect of health and illness. Beyond that, there is also a commitment to the new model of care delivery and to our mission—to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. CHRISTUS nurses  have a strong commitment to the spiritual dimension of health and wellness.

The transformation at CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi – Shoreline is happening both internally and externally, all with a focus on how our patients will experience their healing while in our care.