Adapting and applying the Synergy Model on an inpatient hematology unit.

A pilot project was undertaken by an inpatient hematology and hematopoietic stem cell transplant unit to determine the feasibility of adapting the Synergy Model (Curley, 2007; 1998) to this patient population. During phase one, a patient characteristic tool for measuring complexity, stability, predictability, and participation in care was developed and tested. The tool was found to have strong face validity, high internal consistency, strong construct validity, and moderate inter-rater agreement. A nurse competency assessment was also developed, along with processes for making nursing and Health Care Aid assignments, as well as staffing decisions. The results of the pilot demonstrated that the Synergy Model can be adapted to this population and that it is feasible to use the model in an acute inpatient setting.