What we do

The Office of Personalized Professional Success (OPPS) at UTMB is dedicated to fostering an environment where academic innovation and practical skills converge. This centralized office will play a pivotal role in developing and overseeing alternative credentials, including micro-credentials and digital badges, ensuring that our programs align with the evolving needs of our students and the workforce. By assessing opportunities across both the Academic Enterprise and the Health System, we aim to create a cohesive strategy that enhances educational offerings and supports career advancement both our healthcare campuses and beyond.

Our collaborative organizational structure prioritizes partnerships among key stakeholders, including the AVP for Student Services/Registrar, various administrators, and an Advisory Committee comprising representatives from Institutional Effectiveness, Interprofessional Education, deans, faculty, and staff from each school. This teamwork will enable us to identify and refine our initiatives based on real-time feedback and emerging trends, leading to a progressive approach that emphasizes the relevance and impact of our credentialing opportunities. Together, we will empower our staff and learners to achieve personalized professional success in their chosen careers.

Enhancing the Patient Discharge Experience

At UTMB Health, the discharge process marks a critical moment in a patient’s journey—a transition from hospital to home or another level of care. The UTMB Health Office of Integration has embarked on a transformative project to enhance this experience, ensuring patients leave our care feeling prepared, supported, and confident.

Why Focus on Discharge?

A seamless discharge process is essential for patient satisfaction, safety, and health outcomes. Gaps in communication or preparation at this stage can lead to confusion, medication errors, or even readmissions. Our goal is to address these challenges by reimagining discharge as a moment of clarity and empowerment, rather than uncertainty.

Using a Human-Centered Approach

Guided by design thinking principles, we’ve engaged patients, families, and care teams to understand the pain points in the current discharge process. From these conversations, we’ve identified opportunities to improve communication, reduce complexity, and personalize the experience.

Key Focus Areas

• Streamlining Communication- Patients and families often feel overwhelmed by the volume of information shared during discharge. We’re developing concise, easy-to-understand discharge instructions and exploring digital tools to reinforce these messages after the patient leaves.
• Personalized Care Plans - Each patient’s journey is unique. By tailoring discharge plans to individual needs, including language preferences and health literacy levels, we ensure that patients are set up for success at home.
• Strengthening Follow-Up Support- Discharge doesn’t end when the patient leaves the hospital. We’re working to enhance follow-up care through coordinated scheduling, reminders, and accessible support channels to address post-discharge concerns.
• Empowering Staff-   Our project includes training for care teams to standardize best practices and equip them with the tools needed to provide consistent, patient-centered discharge experiences.

What’s Next? 

We’re currently piloting these initiatives in select units, collecting feedback, and refining the process. Early results show promise, with patients reporting increased understanding of their care plans and fewer post-discharge complications.

How This Aligns with Our Mission

This project reflects UTMB Health’s commitment to integration and excellence. By collaborating across departments and mission areas, we’re ensuring that the discharge process embodies our values of compassion, innovation, and quality care.

Stay tuned for updates as we continue this journey to transform the patient discharge experience. Together, we’re building bridges to better health and stronger patient relationships.