Quality for the Rest of Us

Hosted by Gayle Porter

Business Health Fitness Science

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Episodes

Latest episode

Oct 2025

Language

EN-US

About the show

Quality for the Rest of Us investigates the mysterious world of healthcare in search of adventurous innovation and exciting solutions from professionals across the nation.

Listen to episodes

38 recent

October 3, 2025Episode 128 min

Hospital Cyberattacks (8 mins)

Did you know that healthcare is the most targeted industry by cybercriminals, and that cyberattacks are attributed to increased mortality? This episode introduces an innovative approach to managing the hidden costs of a cyberattack.Key Points:-The true cost of a cyberattack-Mitigation that saves lives-Keeping the hospital openReferences:-FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) (2013). 2013 Internet Crime Report. https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2013_IC3Report.pdf.-Microsoft Threat Intelligence (Oct. 2023). “Innovating for Security and Resilience.” Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2023, 100. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/security-insider/microsoft-digital-defense-report-2023.-McGlave, C; Neprash, H; Nikpay, S (Aug. 19, 2024). “Hacked to Pieces? The Effects of Ransomware Attacks on Hospitals and Patients.” Social Science Research. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4579292-Porter, N (March 2, 2025). Life Hacks: Healthcare’s Cure for the Common Cyberattack. Modeling the Future Challenge 2025.-Ponemon Institute (2024). The 2024 Study on Cyber Insecurity in Healthcare: The Cost and Impact on Patient Safety and Care. https://www.proofpoint.com/us/resources/threat-reports/ponemon-healthcare-cybersecurity-report.-National Security Agency (NSA) (March 2024). NSA’s Top Ten Cloud Security Mitigation Strategies. Cybersecurity Information. https://media.defense.gov/2024/Mar/07/2003407860/-1/-1/0/CSI-CloudTop10-Mitigation-Strategies.PDF.-U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Civil Rights: Breach Portal. “Archive: Notice to the Secretary of HHS Breach of Unsecured Protected Health Information.” https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/breach/breach_report.jsf-European Repository of Cyber Incidents (EuRepoC) (2024). The EuRepoC dashboard. https://www.swp-berlin.org/en/swp/about-us/organization/swp-projects/european-repository-on-cyber-incidents-eurepoc.-A.M. Best (June 24, 2024). US Cyber: Hot Pricing Cools Off, Rapid Growth Stalls.-Sheps Center for Health Services Research (2024). Rural Hospital Closure Database. https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/programs-projects/rural-health/rural-hospital-closures/.Support the showFor more information, visit PorterQI.com, or email Q4Us@porterqi.com.

July 31, 2025Episode 117 min

Safety Culture & Virtue 10: Mentors (7 mins)

What exactly is the value of experience? Will a good mentor help improve safety? How can you measure mentor engagement at the organizational level? Today's episode explores the role of mentorship in safety culture.Key Points:-Witnessing mistakes-Knowledge management-Undocumented wisdomSupport the showFor more information, visit PorterQI.com, or email Q4Us@porterqi.com.

July 17, 2025Episode 106 min

Safety Culture & Virtue 9: Managers (7 mins)

How does the administrative wing respond to scrutiny? We are wired to have a fight or flight response, but surely there is a better way for managers to handle pressure? Today's podcast looks at examples of great managers who kept a pulse on the frontline and gained credibility in the boardroom for the knowledge they gained.Key Points:-frontline expectations-responding to scrutiny-building credibilitySupport the showFor more information, visit PorterQI.com, or email Q4Us@porterqi.com.

June 26, 2025Episode 97 min

Safety Culture & Virtue 8: Retirement (8 mins)

How does your organization celebrate retirement? It's not a typical interview question, but perhaps it should be: How we treat the people who have given years of their lives to the organization speaks volumes about how we value everyone else. Today's episode is half-podcast, half-tribute to Sostenes the lab director -- because listening to people speak about his life at retirement made me want to live mine better.Key Points:-Just another party?-Getting rid of the "old guard"-Building a legacySupport the showFor more information, visit PorterQI.com, or email Q4Us@porterqi.com.

June 12, 2025Episode 87 min

Safety Culture & Virtue 7: Charity (7 mins)

How can we care for strangers if we do not care for each other? This episode looks at some of the best and worst charitable policies in the workplace and examines how safety culture can be elevated and restored during difficult times.Key Points:-Mandatory charity-Acceptable charity lists-Service awards and fundraisersSupport the showFor more information, visit PorterQI.com, or email Q4Us@porterqi.com.

May 29, 2025Episode 76 min

Safety Culture & Virtue 6: Lunch Breaks (7 mins)

How much do you trust your coworkers to watch your patients during lunch?This question is an often overlooked key indicator of safety culture. Nurses are possessive of "their" patients and this episode explores reasons and symptoms of lunch breaks that are not covered.Key Points:-Critical debriefing-Trusting your team-What makes a "good" team?Support the showFor more information, visit PorterQI.com, or email Q4Us@porterqi.com.

May 15, 2025Episode 67 min

Safety Culture & Virtue 5: Tidying Up (8 mins)

Do you ever hear coworkers say, "Someone should fix that"? Have you ever wished Marie Kondo would come to your healthcare facility and tidy up? This episode looks at the physical environment as a sign of safety culture.Key Points:-The Van Halen Effect-The Psychology of your workspace-Someone should fix thatReferences:-Ozden, E. (Sept. 28, 2021). The Reason Behind David Lee Roth’s Brown M&Ms Request for Live Shows. Rock Celebrities. https://rockcelebrities.net/the-reason-behind-david-lee-roths-brown-mms-request-for-live-shows.-Vanbuskirk, S. (April 3, 2023). The Mental Health Benefits of Making Your Bed. VeryWell Health. https://www.verywellmind.com/mental-health-benefits-of-making-your-bed-5093540.Support the showFor more information, visit PorterQI.com, or email Q4Us@porterqi.com.

May 1, 2025Episode 59 min

Safety Culture & Virtue 4: Violence (9 mins)

What is the intersection between safety and security? This episode shares some of my adventures at the bedside and explores opportunities to strengthen safety culture with best practices in security.Key Points:-Violence is prevalent-TJC on violence in healthcare-Safety and SecurityReferences:-The Joint Commission (May 15, 2024). 2023 Sentinel Event Data Annual Report. https://www.jointcommission.org/resources/news-and-multimedia/newsletters/newsletters/joint-commission-online/may-15-2024/now-available-2023-sentinel-event-data-annual-report.-Markovitz, S.; Grimes, C. (Sept. 1, 2022). Violence Against Healthcare Workers Is At An All-Time High: Here’s How Workplaces Can Keep Them Safe. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/coronavirusfrontlines/2022/09/01/violence-against-healthcare-workers-is-at-an-all-time-high-heres-how-workplaces-can-keep-them-safe/.Support the showFor more information, visit PorterQI.com, or email Q4Us@porterqi.com.

April 18, 2025Episode 49 min

Safety Culture & Virtue 3: Families (9 mins)

Everyone wants to believe that we treat our patients like family. But is it possible to prove it? Today's episode provides a quick auditing method to identify whether you have a family-friendly organization.Key Points:-Family Support Systems-Humanizing Healthcare-Family FurnishingsReferences:-Goldfarb, MJ; Bibas, L; Bartlett, V; Jones, H; Khan, N (Oct. 2017). Outcomes of Patient- and Family-Centered Care Interventions in the ICU: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Critical Care Medicine 45(10): 1751-1761. DOI: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000002624.Support the showFor more information, visit PorterQI.com, or email Q4Us@porterqi.com.

April 4, 2025Episode 36 min

Safety Culture & Virtue 2: End of Life Care (7 mins)

Efficient throughput and end of life care work at opposite ends of the spectrum. How does your end of life care reflect your safety culture? Today's episode explores ways to track the quality of end of life care and assess your facility's safety culture in the process.Key Points:-End of life care and the culture of safety-When it takes too long to die-Assessing quality and proceduresSupport the showFor more information, visit PorterQI.com, or email Q4Us@porterqi.com.