What are plans, policies, procedures, and standard work? It’s important to understand how they are all connected, but also how they are different.

• The purpose of organizational plans and policies is to communicate an organization’s values, philosophy, and culture. 
  • Plans and Policies are a set of general guidelines that have been adopted by the organization to assist in the delivery of services. 
  • They outline your organization’s plan for day-to-day operations.
    • Some plans and policies are required for regulatory purposes. 
    • Some are required by law.
    • Some are there to provide the guidance for decision-making and streamline internal processes which in turn provides for high reliability within the service(s) delivered.
  • They are the foundation that organizational procedures and standard work are born from.

• Procedures explain the “how to” of a plan or policy.
  • They provide instructions for accomplishing the goal(s) set forth in the plan or policy.
  • Not every procedure is directly linked to a policy. The procedure may be linked to an overall corporate plan.
    • They give more detailed information related to “how” a plan will be implemented.
    • The procedure adds more specifics such as responsibilities, specific tools, methods, and measurements.

• Standard Work/Job Aids, or as some may know them by, SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) provide actual step-by-step instructions for specific routine tasks based on organizational plans, policies, and/or procedures. 
  • They are guidelines to implement a procedure or process.
    • They are often segmented to focus on those who are doing the actual work.
    • They provide a focus to evaluate the work being done.
  • They may include a checklist or just process steps to follow.

• All YKHC Plans, Policies, Procedures, and Standard Work/Job Aids must be followed as set out. 
  • If the document does not seem to “fit” or be “accurate” it needs to be revised to reflect changes that are wanted to be made in the process.
  • There are official steps to make these changes and the changes are not to be made until these steps have been completed:
    • Work within your supervisor chain of command to update the document to reflect the process that is desired.
    • Load those changes into YKHC MCN Policy Manager with the appropriate approval process. If you need assistance contact the PI Policy & Procedure Manager x6199.
    • Once the change has been officially approved within MCN, educate the staff affected by the revision.
    • Then, and only then, can you implement the new revision.
  • Any member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) may quick approve a revision, if needed, so that operations will not become disrupted.