69 Continuous and Regular Live Feedback is Required to Maintain An Improvement in the Quality of Discharge Summaries. Shop 75 +

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i12-i42
Author(s):  
H Cross ◽  
J Evans ◽  
A Pederson ◽  
D Yidana ◽  
D Carey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Feedback System ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Significant Deterioration ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Continuous Quality ◽  
Feedback Interventions ◽  
Discharge Summaries

Abstract Background This quality improvement project aims to improve communication between secondary and primary care at the time of hospital discharge of older patients. Introduction Discharge summaries (DS) are a key component of communication between secondary and primary care. Poor quality DS are associated with poorer outcomes in terms of adverse events [1], readmissions [2] and medication errors [3]. There is NICE and AMRC guidance on what constitutes a good DS [4, 5]. Method Prospective review of DS from a range of wards was completed in August 2017 against a detailed data tool. A random selection of DS from the same wards was audited monthly from November 2017 onwards. A novel live-feedback system was introduced to the same wards in February 2018 so that the teams completing DS received feedback on how well their summaries complied with the recommendations and what areas needed improvement. A change in staffing lead to a break in the delivery of monthly feedback to the ward teams from April to September 2019 when it was re-commenced. Results In the majority of areas there has been an increase in the quality of the DS from the beginning of the project until March 2019 when the regular feedback interventions were suspended. There was a decrease in the quality of summaries in July and August 2019, followed by an increase as regular feedback interventions recommenced in September 2019. The aggregate results of the four main components of DS (follow-up actions, medicines, clinical summary, and functional assessment), scored “good” in 13% of DS at baseline, 40% in March 2019, 20% in July 2019 and 31% in October 2019. Conclusions The suspension of regular direct interventions resulted in a significant deterioration in the quality of discharge summaries, and this improved quickly after reintroduction of PDSA cycles in key areas. Continuous quality improvement requires uninterrupted focus on regular live feedback. References 1. Clegg et al. Lancet 2013; 381: 752–62. 2. Samra et al. Age Ageing 2017; 46: 911–9. 3. Romero-Ortuno et al. Age Ageing 2012; 41: 684–9.

scholarly journals Improving the quality of electronic discharge summaries from medical wards: A quality improvement project

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e113-e116
Author(s):  
Glesni Davies ◽  
Stephanie Kean ◽  
Indrajit Chattopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Quality Improvement Project ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Medical Wards ◽  
Discharge Summaries

scholarly journals Education and training as key drivers for improving the quality of fluid balance charts: findings from a quality improvement project

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. e001137
Author(s):  
Alpha Madu ◽  
Harshini Asogan ◽  
Ajmal Raoof
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Nursing Staff ◽  
Fluid Balance ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Quality Improvement Project ◽  
Hydration Status ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Competency Assessments

Reviewing fluid balance charts is a simple and effective method of assessing and monitoring the hydration status of patients. Several articles report that these charts are often either inaccurately or incompletely filled thereby limiting their usefulness in clinical practice. We had a similar experience in our practice at Kettering General Hospital and conducted a quality improvement project with a goal to increase the number of charts that were completely and accurately filled by a minimum of 50% in a 1-month period and to reassess the sustainability of this improvement after 6 months. Data from baseline measurements showed that only 25% of the charts in the ward had accurate measurements, 20% had correct daily totals and 14% had complete records of all intakes and losses. We collected feedback from nursing staff in the ward on what challenges they faced in using these charts and how best to support them. Corroborated by evidence from the literature, we discovered that inadequate training was a major factor responsible for the poor quality of documentation in these charts. Using simultaneous plan–do–study–act cycles, we designed and delivered personalised teaching on fluid balance chart documentation to the nursing staff. Subsequent data showed remarkable improvements in all the parameters we assessed. For instance, the proportion of charts with accurate measurements increased by 55% and those with complete entries by 122%. Unfortunately, we were unable to demonstrate sustainability of these improvements as our second set of data collection coincided with the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. In this project, we were able to demonstrate that simple and cost-efficient measures such as adequate training of nursing staff could remarkably improve the quality of fluid balance charts used in our hospitals. We suggest that this training should be included as part of the regular competency assessments for nurses and other healthcare staff.

50 Using A Targeted Teaching Intervention to Drive up the Quality of Discharge Summaries. Shop 75+

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i12-i42
Author(s):  
R C Robey ◽  
A Danson ◽  
J Evans ◽  
J Froggatt ◽  
A Pederson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Information ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Teaching Intervention ◽  
Intended Audience ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Group Settings ◽  
Questionnaire Surveys ◽  
Discharge Summaries

Abstract Background Quality improvement project examining discharge communication, and a targeted teaching intervention. Introduction Poor quality, incomplete or missing discharge summaries (DSs) are associated with avoidable/ameliorable adverse events after discharge [1]; preventable readmission [2,3]; failure to implement discharge plans [4]; and medication continuity errors [4,5]. Methods To review the quality of DSs produced, each month forty representative DSs are randomly selected from four clinical areas and qualitatively assessed (total > 1,000, August 2017—to date). Alongside this, in August 2018, incoming foundation doctors were surveyed on perceptions of the purpose/importance of DSs, and training provided on writing them. They were resurveyed after teaching delivery in November 2018 and April 2019. Interventions Data from QI review and survey were used to generate a teaching intervention, in the form of an interactive slide set for delivery in small group settings. This was delivered in weekly mandatory teaching sessions. PDSA cycles were completed for teaching sessions, and the slide set was developed accordingly. Results After the teaching sessions, we noted improvement in satisfaction with training provided on writing DSs (from 24% to 40%), as well as confidence in writing high-quality DSs (from 28% to 100%). We demonstrated increases in responses including the patient as an intended audience for the DS (from 51% to 84%), and rating “patient information in lay terms” of “high importance” (from 41% to 72%). These changes in perceptions were accompanied by improvement in the quality of DSs produced, particularly with respect to the quality of follow-up actions detailed and the quality of patient information provided in lay terminology. The average monthly proportion of DSs achieving a “great score” in these areas increased from 20% and 28% respectively (August 2017—June 2018), to 44% and 71% (August 2018—March 2019). Conclusions These data provide proof-of-principle that targeted teaching, constructed around prior questionnaire surveys, improves awareness of the purpose of DCs and leads to improvement in the quality of DSs produced and enhanced patient safety.

scholarly journals Reaching the summit of discharge summaries: a quality improvement project

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e001142
Author(s):  
Richard Thomas Richmond ◽  
Isobel Joy McFadzean ◽  
Pramodh Vallabhaneni
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Improve Patient Care ◽  
Discharge Summary ◽  
Shop Floor ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Step Model ◽  
Assessment Unit ◽  
Discharge Summaries

BackgroundDischarge summaries need to be completed in a timely manner, to improve communication between primary and secondary care, and evidence suggests that delays in discharge summary completion can lead to patient harm.Following a hospital health and safety review due to the sheer backlog of notes in the doctor’s room and wards, urgent action had to be undertaken to improve the discharge summary completion process at our hospital’s paediatric assessment unit. It was felt that the process would best be carried out within a quality improvement (QI) project.MethodsKotter’s ‘eight-step model for change’ was implemented in this QI project with the aim to clear the existing backlog of pending discharge summaries and improve the timeliness of discharge summary completion from the hospital’s paediatric assessment unit. A minimum target of 10% improvement in the completion rate of discharge summaries was set as the primary goal of the project.ResultsFollowing the implementation of the QI processes, we were able to clear the backlog of discharge summaries within 9 months. We improved completion within 24 hours, from <10% to 84%, within 2 months. The success of our project lies in the sustainability of the change process; to date we have consistently achieved the target completion rates since the inception of the project. As a result of the project, we were able to modify the junior doctor rota to remove discharge summary duty slots and bolster workforce on the shop floor. This is still evident in November 2020, with consistently improved discharge summary rates.ConclusionQI projects when conducted successfully can be used to improve patient care, as well as reduce administrative burden on junior doctors. Our QI project is an example of how Kotter’s eight-step model for change can be applied to clinical practice.

CQI: Meeting the Mandate for Quality

1995 ◽  
Vol 112 (5) ◽  
pp. P111-P111
Author(s):  
Carl A. Patow
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Continuous Quality Improvement ◽  
Educational Objectives ◽  
Continuous Quality

Educational objectives: To understand the principles of continuous quality improvement and to use these principles to enhance patient satisfaction through increased efficiency and improved quality of care.

scholarly journals Assessing the practice of written referrals to neuroradiology and how this process can be improved and standardised

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S181-S182
Author(s):  
Fraser Currie ◽  
Rashi Negi ◽  
Hari Shanmugaratnam
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Scoring Systems ◽  
Quality Improvement Project ◽  
Cortical Atrophy ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Quality Improvement Initiative ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Quality Of Information ◽  
Improvement Project

AimsThis quality improvement project aims to improve the quality of information provided in the referrals from the older adult psychiatry department to radiology when requesting neuroradiological imaging.The secondary outcome aims to standardise information on the referral proforma. We hypothesise that this improved referral proforma will lead to improved quality of reporting from the radiology department, which will form the second stage of this quality improvement project.A further area of interest of this exercise is to establish whether standardised radiological scoring systems are requested in the referral, as these can be utilised as a means to standardise reported information.MethodRetrospective electronic case analysis was performed on 50 consecutive radiology referrals for a period of 3 months from November 2019 to January 2020. Data were obtained from generic MRI and CT referral proforma and entered into a specifically designed data collection tool. Recorded were patient demographics, provisional diagnosis, modality of imaging, use of ACE-III cognitive score, radiological scoring systems, and inclusion and exclusion criteria.ResultResults from 50 referrals have shown: 60% were male, 40% female. Average patient age of 74, ranging from 49 to 95. 58% were referred for CT head with 42% for MRI head. More than half of referrals quoted the ACE-III score. 26% of referrals stated exclusion criteria such as space occupying lesions, haemorrhages or infarcts. 10% of referrals requested specific neuro-radiological scoring scales. Specific scales which were requested included GCA (global cortical atrophy), MTA scale (medial temporal atrophy), Koedam scale (evidence of parietal atrophy) and Fazekas (evidence of vascular changes). Only 80% of referrals included the patients GP details on the referral form.Conclusion1. This quality improvement initiative has highlighted that the current level of information in referring patient to radiology is variable and dependent on the referrer.2. All referrals should state exclusion criteria as per the NICE guidelines on neuroimaging in diagnosis of dementia.3. Preliminary evidence suggests that requesting specific radiological rating scales could improve the quality of information received in the imaging report. The second part of this quality improvement initiative will aim to explore the impact of requesting these scales routinely.

scholarly journals Enhancing system-wide implementation of opioid prescribing guidelines in primary care: protocol for a stepped-wedge quality improvement project

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra E. Zgierska ◽  
Regina M. Vidaver ◽  
Paul Smith ◽  
Mary W. Ales ◽  
Kate Nisbet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Quality Improvement Project ◽  
Stepped Wedge ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Opioid Prescribing ◽  
Care Protocol
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