EP.FRI.1012 One plus one equals four: how NELA inspired a quality improvement programme that produced 4 distinct positive outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivek Chitre ◽  
Bence Atkari ◽  
Ari Sivakkolunthu ◽  
Robert Woods ◽  
Roshan Lal

Abstract Aim To describe how NELA inspired an ‘improving emergency surgery’ quality improvement programme that produced improvements in 4 distinct areas of surgical practice. Methods This paper describes how Kotter's improvement methodology was implemented in a district general hospital to achieve NELA targets, reduce the negative appendicectomy rate in children, implement NICE guidance on early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis and consistently deliver the 'S' and 'A' of SAFER within the surgery department. Results As a result of a systematic quality improvement approach, Conclusions Incorporating NELA into a local 'improving emergency surgery' quality improvement programme has delivered important and wide-ranging benefits beyond emergency laparotomy, and protected the service from 'crowding out behaviour' where focus on a single quality improvement can come at the expense of quality in other areas.

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivek Chitre ◽  
Robert Woods ◽  
Roshan Lal

Abstract Aim To describe methodology of the quality improvement programme. To assess outcomes and balancing measures. Methods This paper describes how Kotter’s 8-step improvement model was applied in a District General Hospital. The primary outcome (negative appendicectomy rate) was assessed using GIRFT data over 6 years. Reducing negative appendicectomies might conceivably result in delayed surgery (with a potentially increased incidence of perforated/gangrenous appendicitis), increased length of stay (LOS) and increased readmissions due to delay-related complications. These were assessed by a retrospective audit of appendicectomies performed over the same 8-week period in 2016 and 2019. Results The negative appendicectomy rate in children fell from 16% in 2016-2017 (England average 12%) to 4% in 2017-2018. The improvement was sustained at 6% in 2018-2019 (England average 11%). The incidence of perforated/gangrenous appendicitis decreased by 6% from 23% in 2016 to 16% in 2019. Average LOS decreased from 4 days in 2016 to 3 days in 2019. There was 1 (3%) readmission within 7 days in 2016, and 2 (6%) in 2019. Reasons for readmission were postoperative small bowel obstruction due to omental band adhesion(1) and persistent pain (2). None were caused by delayed operation. Conclusions A sustained improvement in negative appendicectomy rate can be achieved by adopting a systematic quality improvement approach. Against expectations, the reduction in negative appendicectomy rate was associated with a slight decrease in average LOS and reduced frequency of perforated/gangrenous appendicitis. There was no significant increase in readmissions, and none were due to delayed operations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Robertson ◽  
Hannah Knight ◽  
Edward Prosser Snelling ◽  
Emily Petch ◽  
Marian Knight ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1137-1143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle H. Bodicoat ◽  
Xavier Mundet ◽  
Laura J. Gray ◽  
Xavier Cos ◽  
Melanie J. Davies ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (46) ◽  
pp. 62-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Heywood ◽  
Lisa Brown ◽  
Michaela Arrowsmith ◽  
Alexa Poppleston

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjqs-2021-013110
Author(s):  
Sanjay Mahant ◽  
Jun Guan ◽  
Jessie Zhang ◽  
Sima Gandhi ◽  
Evan Jon Propst ◽  
...  

BackgroundTonsillectomy is among the most common and cumulatively expensive surgical procedures in children, with known variations in quality of care. However, evidence on health system interventions to improve quality of care is limited. The Quality-Based Procedures (QBP) programme in Ontario, Canada, introduced fixed episode hospital payment per tonsillectomy and disseminated a perioperative care pathway. We determined the association of this payment and quality improvement programme with tonsillectomy quality of care.MethodsInterrupted time series analysis of children undergoing elective tonsillectomy at community and children’s hospitals in Ontario in the QBP period (1 April 2014 to 31 December 2018) and the pre-QBP period (1 January 2009 to 31 January 2014) using health administrative data. We compared the age-standardised and sex-standardised rates for all-cause tonsillectomy-related revisits within 30 days, opioid prescription fills within 30 days and index tonsillectomy inpatient admission.Results111 411 children underwent tonsillectomy: 51 967 in the QBP period and 59 444 in the pre-QBP period (annual median number of hospitals, 86 (range 77–93)). Following QBP programme implementation, revisit rates decreased for all-cause tonsillectomy-related revisits (0.48 to −0.18 revisits per 1000 tonsillectomies per month; difference −0.66 revisits per 1000 tonsillectomies per month (95% CI −0.97 to −0.34); p<0.0001). Codeine prescription fill rate continued to decrease but at a slower rate (−4.81 to −0.11 prescriptions per 1000 tonsillectomies per month; difference 4.69 (95% CI 3.60 to 5.79) prescriptions per 1000 tonsillectomies per month; p<0.0001). The index tonsillectomy inpatient admission rate decreased (1.12 to 0.23 admissions per 1000 tonsillectomies per month; difference −0.89 (95% CI −1.33 to −0.44) admissions per 1000 tonsillectomies per month; p<0.0001).ConclusionsThe payment and quality improvement programme was associated with several improvements in quality of care. These findings may inform jurisdictions planning health system interventions to improve quality of care for tonsillectomy and other paediatric procedures.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e035674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Posy Bidwell ◽  
Ranee Thakar ◽  
Ipek Gurol-Urganci ◽  
James M Harris ◽  
Louise Silverton ◽  
...  

IntroductionObstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) can have severe debilitating consequences to women and health systems. The OASI Care Bundle quality improvement programme was introduced in 16 maternity units across England, Scotland and Wales (January 2017 to March 2018) to address increasing OASI rates.ObjectivesTo explore clinicians’ (midwives’ and obstetricians’) perspectives of the OASI Care Bundle with respect to (1) acceptability, (2) feasibility, and (3) sustainability.DesignA qualitative exploratory study using focus groups methodology.SettingA total of 16 focus groups were conducted in 16 maternity units in England, Scotland and Wales where the OASI Care Bundle was implemented. Focus groups took place approximately 3 months following initial implementation of the care bundle in each unit.ParticipantsA total of 101 clinicians participated, with an average of six per focus group. Participants volunteered to take part and compromised of 37 obstetricians and 64 midwives (including eight students). The majority were female and the mean age was 36.5 years.ResultsFour main themes emerged: ‘Implementation strategies’, ‘Opportunities to use the OASI Care Bundle’, ‘Does current practice need to change?’ and ‘Perceptions of what women want’. Midwives were more likely than obstetricians to report themes alluding to ‘what women want’ and variations in intrapartum perineal protection techniques. Both professional groups reported similar views of other themes, in particular regarding the supporting clinical evidence. Gaps were identified in clinicians’ knowledge and experience of intrapartum perineal management.ConclusionsAdoption of the OASI Care Bundle was associated with a number of cognitive and interpersonal factors, such as personal values, interprofessional working and how the intervention was launched; which both facilitated and impeded adoption. The ‘what women want’ theme has implications for maternal autonomy and needs further exploration. Our findings can be used by similar initiatives to reduce perineal trauma both nationally and internationally.Trial registration numberISCTRN 12143325; https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN12143325.


Critical Care ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. P453
Author(s):  
R Innes ◽  
S Burt ◽  
F Miles ◽  
S Watkins

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