Management Stand-Up

Management Stand-Up


Why & How To Conduct an Effective Morning Meeting for Your Management Team

Morning Stand-Up for Leadership Team

What It Is:
Morning Stand-up is a short daily meeting of department heads/others on the leadership team to share current essential information that everyone present needs to know.

Why To Do It:
Communication of essential information cannot be left to chance. It is most efficient to share the information in a group, rather than walk it around. When it is shared in a group, the group also has the opportunity to problem solve any issues on the spot, and ask questions. Additionally, everyone hears EXACTLY the same information.

Who Attends:
Participants include all department heads, and staff responsible for HR, QI, Staff Development, MDS, and Admissions. Often, Nursing Leaders such as Unit Managers or Shift Supervisors also attend.

When To Do It:
The meeting should occur early enough in the morning to give everyone present the information they need for the day, and late enough in the morning to allow all attending to have gathered the information they need to bring to the meeting. It should be done at a time that does not interfere with essential services that would keep a department head from attending. Many homes have found 9:00 to be a good time.

How Long:
Most stand-ups can be completed in approximately 15 minutes, unless there is a need for an in-depth conversation requiring involvement of the entire team. The meetings should not exceed 30 minutes.

Where To Do It:
The meeting needs to be in a room that is easy to get to, big enough for all to comfortably attend, and in a place that allows for a private discussion.

How To Do It:

  1. Be On Time: This is a short meeting. IT needs to start and end on time. Everyone expected to come needs to be there on time and be prepared to share

  2. Participation: Each attendee shares anything from their department or sphere of responsibility that will be helpful for others to know, or that needs input or involvement of others

  3. Process: In a go-round, each person shares information; Be brief–any areas that need discussion are discussed briefly as they come up; If more discussion is needed, a time is arranged for further discussion

  4. Standing Agenda Items May Include:

    • Census provided in a written document, and with highlights reviewed; Potential information for such a document includes:

      • Residents by Room & By Payment Source

      • Recent & Expected Discharges

      • Recent & Pending Hospitalizations

      • Possible Admissions

    • Information About New Residents

      • Social history, family information, medical needs, room assignment, payment source, and any special needs

    • Information About New Employees

      • Names, assignments, backgrounds, and a “check-in” of how they’re adapting to their new environment

    • Reportable Events, Incidents, & Accidents

    • Complaints & Compliments

    • Follow-Up from Complaints of Previous Day

    • Employees Who Have Excelled & Are To Be Recognized

    • Business Metrics Updates & New Business Developments

    • Clinical, Operational, or Human Resource Area

      • Attendance, Open Positions, Pressure Ulcers, New Lines of Business, etc.

    • Any Key Meetings Scheduled for the Day

    • Any News from Departments

      • Activities events, maintenance, physical plant, build-wide environmental issues rebuilding interdepartmental knowledge or coordination

    • Follow-Up on Any Unresolved Issues Raised

    • Note anyone in their ARD for MDS

Consistency is crucial. To be successful, morning stand-up has to be valuable to the participants. Starting on time, and with an expectation of full attendance is key to making this communication tool really work for you.