UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND CLINICAL PROGRAMS
PROFESSIONAL NURSING ORGANIZATION
POLICY STANDARDS

Performance Improvement Council Bylaws

Article I

Name

The name of the council shall be the Performance Improvement  Council.

Article II

Functions

A.                 Improve patient outcomes by systematically evaluating the effectiveness of performance improvement activities in all of the areas where nursing  practice is   delivered throughout Clinical Programs.

B.                 Provide a forum to discuss and identify opportunities requiring improvement.

C.                 Provide a forum for education and an improved level of staff nurse knowledge regarding the performance improvement process and their role in that process.

D.                 Provide a forum for Staff Nurses to network with peers on nursing performance improvement activities  at UAMS.

E.                  Make recommendations to the Chief Nursing Officer for development and/or implementation of strategies, programs, and initiatives aimed at enhancing professional nursing practice and improving patient and staff satisfaction at UAMS Medical Center.

Article III

Composition, Membership, and Duties

Section 1:            Composition

·        Registered Nurse from each inpatient nursing unit

·        Registered Nurse from the Float Pool

·        Registered Nurse from the Chemo Room

·        Registered  Nurse from Radiology

·        Registered Nurse from Endoscopy

·        Registered Nurse from the Cardiac Cath Lab.

·        Registered Nurse from the Women’s Health Clinic

·        Quality Coordinator for OPC/ACRC

·        Quality Coordinator for Surgical Services

·        Quality Coordinator for Emergency Department and Short Stay Unit

·        Clinical Nurse Specialist (Co-chair of Staff Nurse Advisory Council)

·        Nursing Quality Improvement Manager, and

·        Associate Director of Patient Care Services, Non-voting member

Section 2:            Membership Selection

·        Clinical Nurse Specialist , Quality Improvement  Manager, Quality Coordinators appointed by position.

·        Members will be appointed by Clinical Service Managers to represent a clinical constituency.

Section 3:            Length of Membership

·        Membership of staff nurses shall be for two years.  Terms will be staggered to provide for council continuity.

Section 4:            Chairperson

·        Co-chairs will consist of the Quality Improvement Manager and one Co-Chair member elected by the council

·        Elected Co-Chair shall serve a 2-year term

Section 5:            Responsibilities of Chairperson(s)

·        The chair of the Performance Improvement Council reports to the Chief Nursing Officer

·        Plans meetings and calls meetings as necessary to carry out business

·        Prepares an agenda for each meeting

·        Conducts Council meeting

·        Oversees that plans/and/or actions decided upon by the Performance Improvement  Council are implemented

·        Relays pertinent information from the CNO and other Shared Governance Councils

·        Monitors council member’s attendance and seeks replacement for more than two unexcused absences

·        Coordinates the filling of membership vacancies

·        Coordinates the orientation of new members

·        Records minutes for all council meetings

Section 6:            Responsibilities of Council Members

·        Assure attendance or representation at all council meetings.  It is the duty of the council member to obtain a constituency representative when unable to attend a meeting.  All agendas and attachments for meeting business should be forwarded to the alternate before the council meeting.

·        Report council actions and decisions to constituencies.

·        Maintain council minutes and materials in a manual available to their constituency.

·        Gather necessary data from their constituencies to facilitate the work of the Performance Improvement  Council.

·        Facilitate their individual unit Outcome Indicators and report their activities.

Section 7:            Vacancies

·        Chairperson(s) in collaboration with Clinical Service Managers will be responsible for filling vacancies.

Article IV

Meetings

Section 1:            Meetings

·        Meetings of the Performance Improvement Council will be held monthly.

·        Meetings may be called by the Council Co-Chair(s) at any time there is business to be conducted which requires immediate action.

·        Meeting time will be set by Chairperson(s)

·        The Chairperson(s) may cancel meetings any time when there is no business requiring immediate action.

Section 2:            Quorum

·        A quorum at any meeting shall consist of two-thirds of the members of the Performance Improvement Council.

·        If a quorum is not present, the Chairperson(s) will call the meeting to order and proceed as directed in Robert’s Rules, Chapter XI, “Quorum: Order of Business and Related Concepts”.

Article V

Committees

Section 1:             Ad-Hoc Committees

·        Ad-Hoc Committees may be appointed from among the membership of the Performance Improvement  Council as necessary to conduct Council business.  Such committees will function until their purpose has been achieved.  Following their final report, they shall be dissolved.

·        The following shall be specified for each committee at the time of appointment:

·        Purpose

·        Charge

·        Objectives

·        Term

·        Number of members

·        Chairperson

·        Ad-Hoc Committees shall have authority to call and conduct such meetings to obtain information and to formulate committee recommendations to the Performance Improvement  Council.

·        A quorum shall consist of a majority (over 50%) of the committee members.

·        At the completion of their charge, the Ad-Hoc Committee will submit a written report of actions and recommendations to the Performance Improvement  Council.

Article VI

Parliamentary Authority

Section 1:            Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern meeting of this

council in all parliamentary situations which are not provided for in the rules of this council.

Article VII

Bylaws Amendment

Section 1:            Biennial Review

·        The Performance Improvement  Council bylaws shall be reviewed biennially.

Section 2:            Bylaw Amendments

·        Bylaws of the Performance Improvement Council may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the council.

Article VIII

Special Rules

Section 1:         The Performance Improvement Council shall be governed by Robert’s Standing Rules of Order and shall adopt any special rules as may be necessary to implement more specifically the general principles of these bylaws.  These rules shall relate to the proper conduct of the Staff Nurse Advisory Council activities.

Rules shall be an appendage to these bylaws.  Rules may be amended or repealed at any meeting of the Performance Improvement Council when a quorum is present, by a two-thirds vote of those members present and eligible vote.