scholarly journals Improving the quality of assessment and management of nasal trauma in a major trauma centre (MTC): Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. e000632
Author(s):  
Apoorva Khajuria ◽  
Max Sallis Osborne ◽  
Lisha McClleland ◽  
Sandip Ghosh

BackgroundNasal fractures present in 39% of patients with facial trauma. These patients are assessed in the emergency department followed by outpatient review in the senior house officer-led emergency ear, nose and throat (ENT) clinic. Inadequate treatment of nasal trauma can result in debilitating functional and aesthetic problems. Inexperienced junior doctors may be apprehensive in assessing nasal trauma resulting in time pressured clinics and suboptimal management.MeasuresA retrospective review of clinical noting over 3 months was carried out to gauge the extent of the problem. Three baseline measurements for satisfactory quality of assessments included: (1) 3/5 key symptoms elicited by the clinician (epistaxis, rhinorrhoea, nasal airway obstruction, dental malocclusion and diplopia). (2) Presence/absence of ‘septal haematoma’ (SH) and ‘deviated nasal septum’ (DNS) documented. (3) Patient follow-up within 2 weeks after the initial injury. Three Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were conducted with implementation of interventions (proforma, clinic poster, patient information leaflet and training) as visualised in our ‘driver diagram’.ResultsThe quality of nasal trauma assessments improved following each intervention. There was an increase from 86% to 100% patients being seen within 2 weeks of the injury. There was an improvement in quality of assessments following the teaching as two-thirds (PDSA cycle 2) followed by 100% (PDSA cycle 3) of clinical documentation included ‘rhinorrhoea’ and 83% (PDSA cycle 2) to 100% (PDSA cycle 3) included ‘nasal airway obstruction’. Similarly, two thirds (PDSA cycle 2) followed by 100% (PDSA cycle 3) examined and documented the presence/absence of SH and DNS. A 100% improvement in trainee confidence was reported. We are now conducting more comprehensive assessments of nasal trauma patients.ConclusionThe need to provide relevant training and support to ENT junior doctors is crucial in their development, as well as to ensure delivery of high-quality patient-centred care.

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e000162
Author(s):  
Amoolya Vusirikala ◽  
Mark Backhouse ◽  
Sarah Schimansky

Certain cardiac conditions can limit patients’ ability to drive. It remains the doctors' responsibility to advise patients of any driving restrictions and is particularly important after certain diagnoses or procedures. We identified that the quality of documented advice was variable and frequently no written driving advice was recorded on discharge. It was apparent that there was a lack of awareness and knowledge of the current Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) guidance among junior doctors.We therefore designed a quality improvement project using Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) methodology to improve the provision of driving advice on discharge from a cardiology ward by focusing on staff education. After collecting baseline data, we created a template with cardiology-specific DVLA advice. During the second PDSA cycle, we improved the electronic template and also introduced a hard copy on the ward. During the third PDSA cycle, we incorporated information on DVLA guidance in the specialty induction session. We also evaluated junior doctors’ confidence of providing driving advice before and after this intervention.Baseline measurements showed that 10% (9/92) of all discharge summaries included driving advice. This improved to 49% (34/69) after the third PDSA cycle. Importantly, after receiving information on driving advice in the induction, junior doctors felt more confident in providing driving advice to cardiology patients on discharge. In conclusion, the provision of driving advice on discharge is an important element of patient safety. However, clinicians’ knowledge and awareness of current DVLA guidance is often limited. We demonstrated a significant increase in the provision of driving advice by introducing a standardised template.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Gowda ◽  
K Smith

Abstract Introduction Rotas are an important part of a Junior Doctors working life. Having an up to date and accessible rota is important in enhancing Junior Doctor’s working lives in addition to being vital for work force planning and patient safety. During the Covid19 pandemic, rotas have changed several times making it difficult to track changes. Prior to our project, Junior Doctors found it neither difficult nor easy to access rotas at work (2.84 out of 5), found it fairly difficult to access rotas at home (2.38 out of 5) and the rotas they had access to were only average in being up to date (2.69 out of 5). Our project looked to improve this. Method Data was collected by surveys sent to Junior Doctors in the surgical department. PDSA Cycle 1 involved implementing surgical rotas on Microsoft Teams. PDSA Cycle 2 involved having other speciality rotas on Microsoft Teams. Our aims were to improve accessibility of rotas both at home and in the workplace whilst improving how up to date the available rota is. Results After the surgical rotas were on Microsoft Teams, rotas were easy to access at work (4.64 out of 5), fairly easy to access at home (4.24 out of 5) and were mostly up to date (4.41 out of 5). This has led to an improved satisfaction amongst Junior Doctors. Conclusions Currently the surgical department in Derby is using our solution for rotas. Medical staffing is in the midst of implementing this in the Medical speciality.


2003 ◽  
Vol 113 (7) ◽  
pp. 1118-1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. Rhee ◽  
David T. Book ◽  
Mary Burzynski ◽  
Timothy L. Smith

Author(s):  
Anthony P. Sclafani ◽  
Matthew Scott Sclafani ◽  
Sallie Long ◽  
Tasher Losenegger ◽  
Daniel Spielman ◽  
...  

AbstractThis study aimed to define better the clinical presentation, fracture patterns, and features predictive of associated injuries and need for surgery in pediatric facial trauma patients in an urban setting. Charts of patients 18 years or younger with International Classification of Disease 9th and 10th revision (ICD-9/ICD-10) codes specific for facial fractures (excluding isolated nasal fractures) at NY-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center between 2008 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Of 204 patients, most were referred to the emergency department by a physician's office or self-presented. Children (age 0–6 years) were most likely to have been injured by falls, while more patients 7 to 12 years and 13 to 18 years were injured during sporting activities (p < 0.0001). Roughly half (50.5%) of the patients had a single fracture, and the likelihood of surgery increased with greater numbers of fractures. Older patients with either orbital or mandibular fractures were more likely to undergo surgery than younger ones (p = 0.0048 and p = 0.0053, respectively). Cranial bone fractures, CSF leaks, and intracranial injuries were more common in younger patients (p < 0.0001) than older patients and were more likely after high energy injuries; however, 16.2% of patients sustaining low energy injuries also sustained cranial bone, CSF leak, or intracranial injury. In an urban environment, significant pediatric facial fractures and associated injuries may occur after nonclassic low kinetic energy traumatic events. The age of the patient impacts both the injuries sustained and the treatment rendered. It is essential to maintain a high index of suspicion for associated injuries in all pediatric facial trauma patients.


1995 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon J Taylor

AbstractObjective: In recent years a number of articles have highlighted deficiencies in drinking histories taken by junior doctors. This study examines whether standards have improved as a result. It also examines for the first time: 1. the quality of drinking histories taken from patients following parasuicide; and 2. the quality of illicit drug usage histories.Method: An audit of case notes was undertaken of 114 patients admitted to a district hospital's acute psychiatric wards or assessed following overdose. Two periods were considered; one preceding many of the articles, and the second four years later.Results: There was an overall improvement from 58% of histories in 1988 having no mention of alcohol usage to 25% in 1992. (X2MH=10.57, p<0.01). There was, however, insufficient improvement of quantitative histories to reach statistical significance. Histories taken as part of an overdose assessment were not significantly different from those taken for inpatient admission. In 1992, 27% of patients had any illicit drug usage history recorded which represented a statistically significant improvement (X2MH=5.91, p<0.02) compared with four years earlier.Conclusions: Although improvements have been noted, alcohol and drug histories remain inadequate.


1979 ◽  
Vol 72 (11) ◽  
pp. 848-851
Author(s):  
A G D Maran

The pathology of the deviated nose is discussed in relation to its bony and cartilaginous components. The importance of the interlocking stresses within the septal cartilage is pointed out especially with respect to continuing deformation after trauma. The methods of rhinometry are analysed and normal airflow through the nose is described. The effects on the nasal airway of a caudal dislocation of the septum, an angulation at the valve area, a high septal deflection and an excessively wide choana are discussed. In the treatment of a deviated bony segment the difficulties of medial and lateral osteotomies are described. The indications for a septoplasty are thought to be a dislocated caudal end, a tip deviation and an external lateral angulation. The submucous resection of the septum should be reserved for resolved haematoma and cartilage absorption. The importance of the patient's priorities in deciding what operation to do are pointed out. Finally the experimental work on the effect of cartilage and mucoperichondrium resection on nasal growth is reviewed. It is suggested that a child with a severe septal deflection and airway obstruction should be offered a septoplasty taking care not to damage the mucoperichondrium.


2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronan McIvor ◽  
Emma Ek ◽  
Jerome Carson

Aims and MethodTo examine non-attendance rates in patients seen by psychiatrists of different grades and a consultant clinical psychologist. Rates were obtained from the patient administration system over a 21-month period.ResultsA planned linear contrast showed that the clinical psychologist's patients had the lowest rate of non-attendance (7.8%), followed in turn by those of consultant psychiatrists (18.6%), specialist registrars (34%) and senior house officers (37.5%).Clinical ImplicationsFactors such as continuity of care, perceived clinical competence and the provision of non-medical interventions might have an impact on attendance rates. These results indicate the difficulty in reconciling the training needs of junior doctors with the provision of continuity and quality of care for patients. Reminder systems for people seeing training doctors might be an effective way of reducing non-attendance rates.


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