Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement | Quality Time with Dr. Schaal

Delivering Measurable, Nationally Recognized Quality in the Department of Surgery

On this episode of Quality Time, Dr. A. Osama Gaber shares how Houston Methodist’s Department of Surgery maintains its high standards and innovative drive by focusing on safety, quality management, and programmatic development. By pairing talented faculty with strong institutional quality frameworks, the department continuously improves patient safety and results. He also shares how out of the devastating loss of his daughter came Nora’s Gift Foundation and Nora’s Home—a hospitality home in the Texas Medical Center that provides affordable, supportive housing for transplant patients and their families. Built with support from Houston Methodist, Nora’s Home includes 32 rooms and community spaces and has served thousands of families over the past 13 years.  Expert: Dr. A. Osama Gaber, John F. Jr. and Carolyn Bookout Presidential Distinguished Chair in Surgery, chair of the Department of Surgery at Houston Methodist, and the Founding Director of the J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center   Notable topics covered: * The evolution of transplantation and robotic surgery  * Houston Methodist’s performance on national quality metrics * Programmatic growth and curriculum development  * Nora’s Home

How Professionalism Shapes Patient Safety | Dr. William Cooper

In this episode of Quality Time, Dr. William Cooper, president of the Vanderbilt Health Center for Patient and Professional Advocacy discusses how professionalism, teamwork, and communication shape everything—from malpractice risk to patient outcomes, workplace culture, and long‑term career performance.  * Just 2% of physicians account for 50% of all malpractice claims. * Peer‑delivered feedback—"Cup of Coffee” conversations—can reduce future malpractice risk by up to 80%. * Ninety-seven percent of clinicians who receive early, informal feedback modify their behavior.  * These interventions decrease complaints, strengthen workplace culture, and ultimately save lives. Expert: Dr. William Cooper, president of the Vanderbilt Health Center for Patient and Professional Advocacy Notable topics covered: * Professionalism’s effect on quality care * Who is responsible for the majority of malpractice claims  * Ways to reduce claims and increase professionalism

Improving Care Outcomes Through Simulation‑Based Education | Quality Time with Dr. Schaal

In this episode, Dr. Randy Steadman, chair of anesthesiology and critical care at Houston Methodist and associate director of Houston Methodist's MITIE at the Bookout Center, shares how creating realistic, immersive environments in simulation based education leads to better surgical and clinical outcomes. Dr. Steadman has developed simulation instructor training programs for: * Clinical emergency response teams * Code blue teams * Obstetrical critical event teams  Expert: Dr. Randy Steadman, chair of anesthesiology and critical care at Houston Methodist and associate director of Houston Methodist's MITIE at the Bookout Center Notable topics covered: * Evolutions in simulation education * Benefits of using simulation education for critical incident training * Overview of MITIE simulation training and debriefing Links: * Dr. Randy Steadman (Faculty Profile [https://scholars.houstonmethodist.org/en/persons/randolph-h-steadman/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-steadman-20600297/]) * Houston Methodist Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care [https://www.houstonmethodist.org/for-health-professionals/department-programs/anesthesiology/] * Houston Methodist's MITIE at the Bookout Center [https://www.houstonmethodist.org/academic-institute/education/bookout-center/]

Leading with Kindness | Quality Time with Dr. Schaal

In this episode, Dr. Stephen Swensen discusses his work at Mayo Clinic to create thriving, ideal work environments. His most recent book, Mayo Clinic Strategies to Reduce Burnout - 12 Actions to Create the Ideal Workplace, outlines four evidence based elements of an ideal workplace: agency, belonging, collective effervescence and positivity. Dr. Swensen is a recognized expert, speaker and inter-disciplinary researcher in wellbeing, leadership and organizational development. For 35 years, he served patients at Mayo Clinic as a clinician, scientist, educator and leader. He serves as a senior fellow of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and a transformational fellow at The NARBHA Institute. Expert: Dr. Stephen Swensen, senior fellow, Institute for Healthcare Improvement; transformational fellow, NARBHA Institute; professor emeritus, Mayo Clinic Notable topics covered: * The role leadership plays in creating healthy, thriving work environments * The elements of an ideal workplace: agency, belonging, collective effervescence and positivity * How People-Centered Kind Leaders cultivate work communities that allow people to optimize their positive life assessment and healthspan Links: * Steve Swensen (LinkedIn) [https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-swensen-68b516169/] * Mayo Clinic [https://www.mayoclinic.org/] * Mayo Clinic Strategies to Reduce Burnout - 12 Actions to Create the Ideal Workplace [https://www.amazon.com/Mayo-Clinic-Strategies-Reduce-Burnout/dp/0190848960] * Institute for Healthcare Improvement [https://www.ihi.org/] * The NARBHA Institute [https://narbhainstitute.org/] * Leading with Kindness [https://narbhainstitute.org/endeavors/CGR-supplemental-materials/Leading-with-Kindness-Swensen_030624.pdf]

Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement | Quality Time with Dr. Schaal

In this episode, Chris Siebenaler shares how his nearly 25-year Houston Methodist career has shaped his perspective on how to drive continuous improvement. As executive vice president of network hospitals, Siebenaler shares how incorporating lean management principals and daily management systems have empowered physicians and staff to identify issues, track performance and implement solutions. Expert: Chris Siebenaler, executive vice president of network hospitals, Houston Methodist Notable topics covered: * Fostering continuous improvement and frontline engagement through lean management * Creating a culture of excellence through transparency and staff empowerment * Quality is not just metrics — it’s about meaningful experiences for patients and caregivers Links:                                                                        * Chris Siebenaler LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-siebenaler-56890b314/] * Dr. Eric Dickson: How Lean Management Transformed a Health Care System | Quality Time Podcast [https://www.houstonmethodist.org/leading-medicine-blog/articles/2024/apr/podcast-how-lean-management-transformed-a-health-care-system-quality-time-with-dr-schaal/] * Examining the Relationship Between the Lean Management System and Quality Improvement Care Management Processes [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8881543/] * Lean Management — The Journey from Toyota to Healthcare [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3678835/]