5th Annual Shark Tank Competition

The DOM Quality & Patient Safety Program is proud to announce the 5th Annual Shark Tank Finalist Competition on

May 12th, 2021 @ 12-1pm during DOM Grand Rounds

Projects must be submitted no later than March 19, 2021

The sharks are back and they are hungry! They are on the hunt for innovative quality improvement projects designed to improve high value care (HVC) delivery. HVC is evidence-based, value-enhancing practices aimed at improving outcomes and the cost and quality of healthcare. The Sharks, an esteemed panel of quality and safety experts from across the CU School of Medicine and UCHealth, will hear presentations from the Shark Tank Finalists and choose a winning project to receive support from the DOM Quality & Patient Safety (QPS) Team.

Eligibility:

• Open to faculty (physicians & APPs), residents, fellows and staff at the University of Colorado Hospital (+care sites), Denver Health Hospital and Veteran Affairs Hospital
• VA projects only: Projects must address one of the System Strategic Plans
• Must have DOM faculty sponsor
• Must address one of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Domains of Quality Care: Safety, Timeliness, Efficiency, Equity, Effectiveness and Patient-centered care
• Address elements of HVC including, but not limited to:
  • Improving patient outcomes
  • Reducing harm
  • Reducing cost/waste
  • Preventative care
  • Process improvement
  • Improving communication/hand-offs

Shark Tank Finalist Competition: 

• Shark Tank Finalist Competition will be held on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 @ 12-1pm during DOM Grand Rounds via Zoom 
• Finalists will be given 2-3 minutes to make their pitch to the Shark Tank Judges, followed by a 2-minute rapid fire Q&A (watch an episode of ABC’s Shark Tank for inspiration!)
• Shark Tank Judges will choose the winning project to receive QPS Team support for AY21-22 based on the following criteria:
  • HVC focus
  • Importance of problem
  • Scope of impact
  • Feasibility of implementation
  • Applicability across DOM sites and specialties
  • Alignment with University of Colorado Hospital priorities   

Shark Tank Winner for AY 2019-2020

HF RADAR: Reduced Admissions and Decompensation and Augmented Recovery for Heart Failure Patients​

Heart failure (HF) is a common cause of re-hospitalizations and patient morbidities. Successful strategies to reduce hospitalization include more frequent provider contact and strategies to track HF patients and optimize evidence-based medical therapies (EMT). The ten continuity clinics of Cardiology Fellows include 25% of the general cardiology patients but a higher prevalence of HF patients with high-risk conditions for readmission. This high value care project will:

1) implement a RADAR screen (Dashboard) for tracking HF patients in the clinical practice of the Cardiology Fellow Clinics

2) improve rates of titrating optimal medical therapies and normalizing left ventricular (LV) function

3) and engage the providers in assessments of quality care for CHF patients. The aim is to reduce the rate of HF admissions by 15%, and improve the rate of LV function recovery that may avoid the need for ICD placement. Furthermore, the project will provide feedback and self-evaluation of high value care for future general cardiologists.

HF RADAR Team:

Dan Huck, MD, Team Leader for Wednesday Fellow Clinic

Scott Freeman, MD, Team Leader for Thursday Fellow Clinic

Karen Moulton, MD, Faculty Sponsor, Director Cardiology Fellow Clinic