This episode of Key in to Quality asks a simple but profound question: what if the way we talk with patients could transform their care and our own experience as clinicians?

Clear, empathic communication builds trust, improves diagnostic accuracy, and tightens adherence and relationships. Mayo Clinic’s Communication in Health Care program treats communication as a core clinical competency, not an optional “soft skill.” Faculty from multiple specialties lead retreat-style courses for new providers that blend facilitated conversations, skills practice, and real-time feedback. Listeners will hear how the program supports clinician well-being, reinforces professionalism, and helps sustain a culture where being heard, understood, and respected is central to care.

Guests:

Cory Ingram, MD, MS,FAAHPM | LinkedIn

Susan Romanski, M.D.

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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Post-pandemic shifts to virtual, abbreviated onboarding have left many new staff feeling isolated, less confident, and more likely to burn out.

In this episode of Key in to Quality, listeners get a peek into what’s working at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. A nursing team developed an enculturation toolkit designed to intentionally root new nurses in Mayo Clinic’s mission, values, and cultural heritage. The toolkit organizes existing institutional resources into leader-ready activities aligned with evidence-based principles of engagement, meaning, connection, and reflective practice. It supports diverse learning needs and reinforces culture for both new and seasoned staff.

Pilot results showed sustained engagement, stronger understanding of mission and values, and observable behavioral improvements that enrich teamwork and patient experience. The approach is now being explored for broader implementation and potential licensing.

Guests: Crystal Grys | LinkedIn Melania Flores | LinkedIn

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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Healthcare safety often focuses on what went wrong, but what about the moments when harm is stopped before it ever reaches the patient?

In this Key in to Quality episode, host Tim Morgenthaler, M.D., and co-host Sheri Nemec talk with Shari Ochoa, M.D., Ashley Stapp, and Beth Terrio from Mayo Clinic Arizona about the Good Catch “safety in action” program.

They describe how a grassroots idea launched during COVID-19 with simple email shout-outs has grown into a robust recognition program with scoring criteria, dashboards, campus boards, and even a traveling trophy. Along the way, they highlight psychological safety, the five safe behaviors, and the value of recognizing both self-reported and peer-nominated good catches.

Listeners will hear practical advice on starting small, building infrastructure, developing meaningful metrics, and shifting culture from “gotcha” to “good catch,” so staff feel safe speaking up.

#mayokeyintoquality #patientsafety #keyintoquality #qualityimprovement #safetyculture

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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Catheter-associated urinary tract infections remain one of the most common yet preventable hospital-acquired infections. In this Key in to Quality episode, host Dr. Tim Morgenthaler, M.D., and co-host Sheri Nemec ask a simple question with big implications: What if we treated every urinary catheter like a high-risk medication?

Guests Hari Korsapati, M.D., Regional Director for Hospital Quality and Chief of Staff at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, M.S., and Alexandra “Alex” Bates, D.N.P., a nursing and quality leader focus on hospital-acquired infections, describing how their team moved CAUTI work from discussion to action.

They outline practical strategies that worked: nurse-driven escalation to the Medical Officer of the Day for second opinions, daily bedside review of Foley necessity on rounds, and an evidence-based urinary management order set aligned with APIC guidelines that favors intermittent catheterization whenever possible.

Listeners will walk away with concrete action steps to standardize practice, assist care teams, and make CAUTI reduction a shared, long-term success.

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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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.

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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/

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