scholarly journals Quality improvement project to improve patient outcomes by reducing door to CT and door to needle time and increasing appropriate referrals for endovascular thrombectomy.

2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e001429
Author(s):  
Jennifer Hennebry ◽  
Sinead Stoneman ◽  
Breda Jones ◽  
Nicola Bambrick ◽  
Andreea Stroiescu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Care Pathway ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Radiology Department ◽  
Local Data ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Endovascular Thrombectomy ◽  
Number Of Patients

This paper describes a stroke quality improvement (QI) project in a primary stroke centre in a 431-bed hospital serving a local population of 114 000 people. Approximately 170 acute strokes are treated each year in a seven-bed stroke unit managed by three geriatricians with a subspecialty interest in stroke. 24-hour CT radiology service is available. Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is performed by neuro-interventional radiology at one of two comprehensive stroke centres located 90–120 min away.In 2018, as part of a national collaborative QI initiative a new national thrombectomy referral pathway was introduced with an aim that all eligible patients be referred for EVT. This initiative included maximising timely access to CT and thrombolysis. Review of local data highlighted significant deficits in these areas.A local QI team convened and a multidisciplinary approach was employed to map the existing process for CT access and time to thrombolysis decision.We describe how focused timesaving interventions such as; new emergency and radiology department ‘pre-alerts’, dedicated acute stroke pagers, new ‘FAST’ registration by clerical staff, new CT ordering codes and new ‘FAST packs’ (including tissue plasminogen activator, paper National Institute of Health Stroke Scale scoring tools, consent forms and EVT patient selection tools) were created and incorporated into a multidisciplinary detailed clinical stroke care pathway.We describe how we achieved our SMART aims; to reduce our door to CT time and to reduce our door to needle time to the national target of less than 30 min. A third aim was to increase the number of patients referred for EVT from our centre.This project is an accurate description of how a multidisciplinary approach combined with teamwork and effective communication can create sustainable improved patient care and is generalisable to all institutions that require timely referral to external centres for EVT.

scholarly journals Redesigning community care for safer staff and patient experiences: quality improvement project to improve safety and reduce incidents of violence and aggression in a community mental health team

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S217-S218
Author(s):  
Sarah Saxena ◽  
Alberto Gutierrez Vozmediano ◽  
Katrina Walsh ◽  
Sarah Moodie ◽  
Rumbi Mapfumo
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Care Pathway ◽  
Patient Discharge ◽  
Community Services ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Discharge Process ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Improvement Project

AimsViolent or aggressive incidents can be relatively common in community settings, and perhaps more difficult to manage than at inpatient wards due to the relative isolation and peripatetic delivery model, which can put staff at higher risk during incidents. Carshalton and Wallington Recovery Support team was identified as an outlier in the Trust and was invited to partake in a Safety Collaborative across South London Partnership.Stakeholders agreed on the aim of reducing incidents by 20% over 1 year by the end of 2020.MethodData about incidents were analysed and staff surveys conducted to evaluate violent events. Patient discharge was highlighted as a particular time of increased aggression. Involvement of patients and carers through patient focus groups and co-production was essential to elicit areas of improvement. These included staff confidence and awareness of existing guidelines. Additional secondary drivers were communication with patients, care pathway development, discharge process and multidisciplinary approach, which each had associated change ideas.The team identified change ideas that have been tested over one year using the Quality Improvement methodology of small-scale testing and PDSA. Example ideas tested include multidisciplinary Risk meetings, Safety huddle tool, Staff Safety training, co-produced Welcome and Discharge Packs with informed care pathways.ResultThere has been a 30% reduction in incidents by December 2020 across a total of 280 patients. Surveys have shown an increase in staff confidence and safety protocol awareness from 40% to 70% by October 2020. 100% of patients in focus groups found the Welcome and Discharge Packs helpful.ConclusionA structured improvement approach focused on staff safety and minimisation of known and potential contributing factors can lead to a reduction in incidents. Safety huddles and risk meetings allow a formal multidisciplinary approach to management of violence and aggression. Staff feel more reassured about safety policies in the trust, with better communication between senior management and colleagues to highlight risk and provide support. A culture of open discussion and transparency was implemented through provision of Welcome Packs including Care and Discharge Pathways details at point of entry to the service. Support was provided to patients with Discharge Packs including information about community services. This enabled a meaningful support model at the end of their recovery journey and an improved discharge process.The team is now working with additional teams and administrative and clerical staff to improve safety. We hope to replicate this approach in our Trust.

scholarly journals Physical Therapist–Established Intensive Care Unit Early Mobilization Program: Quality Improvement Project for Critical Care at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (7) ◽  
pp. 975-985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi J. Engel ◽  
Shintaro Tatebe ◽  
Philip B. Alonzo ◽  
Rebecca L. Mustille ◽  
Monica J. Rivera
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Physical Therapy ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Physical Therapist ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Early Mobilization ◽  
Quality Improvement Project ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Icu Admission ◽  
Number Of Patients

Background Long-term weakness and disability are common after an intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Usual care in the ICU prevents most patients from receiving preventative early mobilization. Objective The study objective was to describe a quality improvement project established by a physical therapist at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center from 2009 to 2011. The goal of the program was to reduce patients' ICU length of stay by increasing the number of patients in the ICU receiving physical therapy and decreasing the time from ICU admission to physical therapy initiation. Design This study was a 9-month retrospective analysis of a quality improvement project. Methods An interprofessional ICU Early Mobilization Group established and promoted guidelines for mobilizing patients in the ICU. A physical therapist was dedicated to a 16-bed medical-surgical ICU to provide physical therapy to selected patients within 48 hours of ICU admission. Patients receiving early physical therapy intervention in the ICU in 2010 were compared with patients receiving physical therapy under usual care practice in the same ICU in 2009. Results From 2009 to 2010, the number of patients receiving physical therapy in the ICU increased from 179 to 294. The median times (interquartile ranges) from ICU admission to physical therapy evaluation were 3 days (9 days) in 2009 and 1 day (2 days) in 2010. The ICU length of stay decreased by 2 days, on average, and the percentage of ambulatory patients discharged to home increased from 55% to 77%. Limitations This study relied upon the retrospective analysis of data from 6 collectors, and the intervention lacked physical therapy coverage for 7 days per week. Conclusions The improvements in outcomes demonstrated the value and feasibility of a physical therapist–led early mobilization program.

151 Optimising Bone Health on Sheffield Frailty Unit Through Quality Improvement

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i12-i42
Author(s):  
C M Orton ◽  
N E Sinson ◽  
R Blythe ◽  
J Hogan ◽  
N A Vethanayagam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Fracture Risk ◽  
Fragility Fracture ◽  
Bone Health ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Fragility Fractures ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Fracture Risk Assessment Tool

Abstract Introduction NICE and the National Osteoporosis Guidance Group (NOGG) advise on evaluation of fracture risk and osteoporosis treatment1,2, with evidence suggesting that screening and treatment reduces the risk of fragility fractures 3,4,5. However, it is often overlooked in the management of older patients within secondary care. Audit data from Sheffield Frailty Unit (SFU) in 2018 showed that national guidance was not routinely followed. Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX®) scores were not calculated and bone health was poorly managed. Therefore, we undertook a quality improvement project aiming to optimise bone health in patients presenting to SFU. Method & Intervention In January 2019 we collaborated with Sheffield Metabolic Bone Centre (MBC) to develop a pathway aiming to improve bone health assessment and management in patients presenting to SFU with a fall or fragility fracture. This included a user-friendly flow chart with accompanying guidelines, alongside education for staff. Performance was re-evaluated in May 2019, following which a tick box prompt was added to post take ward round documentation. A re-audit was performed in March 2020. Results In March 2018 0% of patients presenting with a fall had a FRAX® score calculated and only 40% of those with a new fragility fracture were managed according to guidelines. In May 2019, this had improved to 18% and 100% respectively. In March 2020 86% of patients had a FRAX® score calculated appropriately and 100% of fragility fractures were managed according to guidelines. In both re-audits 100% of FRAX® scores were acted on appropriately. Conclusions There has been a significant increase in the number of patients who have their bone health appropriately assessed and managed after presenting to SFU. However, achieving optimum care is under constant review with the aim to deliver more treatment on SFU, thereby reducing the need for repeat visits to the MBC.

Abstract 3446: Inpatient Code Stroke Protocol: A Quality Improvement and Knowledge Translation Strategy for a Challenging Scenario

Stroke ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline D Willems ◽  
Krsytyna Skrabka ◽  
Roseane Nisenbaum ◽  
Judith Barnaby ◽  
Pawel Kostyrko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Robust Regression ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Stroke Severity ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Presenting Symptoms ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Assessment And Treatment

Background: Stroke care faces a clinical challenge in treating inhospital strokes, which account for about 15% of all strokes. Prior studies showed an inequity in the assessment and treatment of inpatients who suffer a stroke versus out-of hospital. For example, inpatients have longer time to initial assessment, CT and are less likely (wait longer) to receive tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). There is limited research evaluating the efficacy of inpatient code stroke protocols (ICSP) on access to and quality of hyper-acute stroke care. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the ICSP in a large tertiary care hospital. Methods: This prospective study evaluated a quality improvement strategy involving ICSP implementation at St Michael’s Hospital in 2009. The ICSP focuses on the identification of stroke symptoms and timely notification of most responsible physician, then leverages the Emergency Department code stroke process. A 3-month hospital-wide implementation period involved 60 min. education sessions with a minimum of 2 sessions per unit. Demographic factors, presenting symptoms, stroke severity, vascular risk factors as well as time of: symptoms onset, CT; and physician assessment were collected by chart abstraction after ethics approval. The primary outcomes was time from last seen normal (LSN) to CT scan. Secondary outcomes include time from LSN to initial assessment (IA), medical complications and number of patients receiving endovascular interventions or intravenous thrombolysis. The analysis was completed by comparing unadjusted and adjusted outcomes pre and post implementation of the ICSP. Descriptive statistics and robust regression was completed using SAS 9.0. Results: Overall, there were 245 inhospital strokes during the study period (152 pre and 93 post ICSP implementation). Mean age was 69.8 yrs, 60% were male. Most inpatient strokes occurred on cardiovascular services (42.9%). Main results summarized in table . There was no difference in the number of patients receiving thrombolysis or endovascular treatment. After adjustment for covariates, the ICS was associated with a significant reduction of 288 minutes (95%CI -566, -10) in time from LSN to CT. Similarly, there was significant reduction of 307 (95%CI -532, -82) in time from LSN to IA. Conclusions: Implementation of the ICSP resulted in improvements in the process indicators related to assessment and treatment of hyper-acute stroke. Similar quality improvement strategies can be implemented to ameliorate disparities between care for inpatients and outpatient presenting with an acute ischemic stroke.

scholarly journals Protecting patients from infection: Improving topical prophylaxis compliance on surgical wards

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 47-51
Author(s):  
Holly Slyne ◽  
Natalie Clews ◽  
Sid Beech ◽  
Elizabeth Smilie
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
District General Hospital ◽  
Site Infection ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Medication Prescription ◽  
Improvement Plan ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Improve Compliance

Background: At a medium-sized district general hospital in the heart of England, it was identified that compliance to the administration of topical prophylaxis on three general surgery wards had reduced to 23%, following implementation of an electronic medication prescription record. Therefore, a quality improvement project was commenced to improve this compliance to protect patients from meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonisation and associated bacteraemia. Aim: To improve compliance of topical prophylaxis administration on three surgical wards to protect patients from infection. Method: Quality improvement plan – do – study – act (PDSA) cycles evaluated the effectiveness of four different strategies from baseline data which was 23% compliant in December 2016. These included teaching and communication strategies, prompts in medical notes, discontinuation of Mupirocin 2% nasal ointment as part of the topical prophylaxis regime and discontinuation of the topical wash lotion from requiring a prescription. Results: The compliance of prophylaxis administration increased consistently throughout from 23% in December 2016 to 92% in March 2018. Consequently, the number of patients that developed a MRSA colonisation on the three wards reduced by 54%, from 13 in the 12 months before the study to six in the 12 months after the study. Discussion: This study led to a change in the Trust MRSA Policy to better protect patients from infection, particularly surgical site infection and MRSA bacteraemia. It suggests that quality improvement methodology has a place in infection prevention practice.

Closing Gaps Between Evidence-Based Stroke Care Guidelines and Practices with a Collaborative Quality Improvement Project

2006 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 517-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacey Stoeckle-Roberts ◽  
Mathew J. Reeves ◽  
Bradley S. Jacobs ◽  
Kate Maddox ◽  
Lisa Choate ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Quality Improvement Project ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Care Guidelines

scholarly journals Using Quality Improvement Methods and Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing to Improve Value-Based Cancer Care Delivery at a Cancer Genetics Clinic

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. e320-e331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Y.C. Tan ◽  
Marie Met-Domestici ◽  
Ke Zhou ◽  
Alexis B. Guzman ◽  
Soon Thye Lim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Cancer Genetics ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Genetic Counselor ◽  
Activity Based Costing ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Personnel Costs ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
The Impact

Purpose: To meet increasing demand for cancer genetic testing and improve value-based cancer care delivery, National Cancer Centre Singapore restructured the Cancer Genetics Service in 2014. Care delivery processes were redesigned. We sought to improve access by increasing the clinic capacity of the Cancer Genetics Service by 100% within 1 year without increasing direct personnel costs. Methods: Process mapping and plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles were used in a quality improvement project for the Cancer Genetics Service clinic. The impact of interventions was evaluated by tracking the weekly number of patient consultations and access times for appointments between April 2014 and May 2015. The cost impact of implemented process changes was calculated using the time-driven activity-based costing method. Results: Our study completed two PDSA cycles. An important outcome was achieved after the first cycle: The inclusion of a genetic counselor increased clinic capacity by 350%. The number of patients seen per week increased from two in April 2014 (range, zero to four patients) to seven in November 2014 (range, four to 10 patients). Our second PDSA cycle showed that manual preappointment reminder calls reduced the variation in the nonattendance rate and contributed to a further increase in patients seen per week to 10 in May 2015 (range, seven to 13 patients). There was a concomitant decrease in costs of the patient care cycle by 18% after both PDSA cycles. Conclusion: This study shows how quality improvement methods can be combined with time-driven activity-based costing to increase value. In this paper, we demonstrate how we improved access while reducing costs of care delivery.

Economic evaluation of the Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit

2020 ◽  
pp. 174749302092994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joosup Kim ◽  
Damien Easton ◽  
Henry Zhao ◽  
Skye Coote ◽  
Garveeta Sookram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stroke Unit ◽  
Standard Care ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Reperfusion Therapy ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Local Data ◽  
Endovascular Thrombectomy ◽  
Stroke Treatment ◽  
Mobile Stroke Unit ◽  
Life Years

Background The Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) is the first Australian service to provide prehospital acute stroke treatment, including thrombolysis and facilitated triage for endovascular thrombectomy. Aims To estimate the cost-effectiveness of the MSU during the first full year of operation compared with standard ambulance and hospital stroke care pathways (standard care). Methods The costs and benefits of the Melbourne MSU were estimated using an economic simulation model. Operational costs and service utilization data were obtained from the MSU financial and patient tracking reports. The health benefits were estimated as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) avoided using local data on reperfusion therapy and estimates from the published literature on their effectiveness. Costs were presented in Australian dollars. The robustness of results was assessed using multivariable (model inputs varied simultaneously: 10,000 Monte Carlo iterations) and various one-way sensitivity analyses. Results In 2018, the MSU was dispatched to 1244 patients during 200 days of operation. Overall, 167 patients were diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke, and 58 received thrombolysis, endovascular thrombectomy, or both. We estimated 27.94 DALYs avoided with earlier access to endovascular thrombectomy (95% confidence interval (CI) 15.30 to 35.93) and 16.90 DALYs avoided with improvements in access to thrombolysis (95% CI 9.05 to 24.68). The MSU was estimated to cost an additional $30,982 per DALY avoided (95% CI $21,142 to $47,517) compared to standard care. Conclusions There is evidence that the introduction of MSU is cost-effective when compared with standard care due to earlier provision of reperfusion therapies.

scholarly journals 63 Quality Improvement Project: Should We be Doing More or Less Ct Head Scans in the Health Care of Older People Department?

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i18-i20
Author(s):  
M Munir ◽  
T Shouter ◽  
H S Tay
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Older People ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Quality Improvement Project ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
New Findings ◽  
New Finding ◽  
Ct Head

Abstract Introduction Older people are likely to have more CT head scans given their multiple co- morbidities, being on anticoagulants, and increased falls. The aims of this quality improvement project (QIP) were to identify the number of patients who had CT head scan, the reason/indication of it, the number of patients who had new finding/s on it, actions taken on new findings, and whether the management plan was altered because of the CT scan. Methods Medical notes and CT head scan reports of all patients admitted to the Health Care of Older People department from April to September 2018 were reviewed to evaluate the indications of CT head scans, new findings, and management plans following the findings. Results 461 (10.7%) out of the 4323 patients discharged from the healthcare of older people department during April to September 2018 had CT head scans during admission. Frequent indications for CT head scans included delirium, falls and head injury. Only 46 (9.9%) patients had new finding/s on the CT head scan, and action was taken on 26 (56.5%) of these patients. The CT head scan changed the management plan of only 17 (3.6%) patients. Please see Table for more details. Conclusions By using our clinical judgement, following NICE guidelines on head injuries, educating our colleagues on the criteria for requesting a CT head scan, taking collateral histories about patients’ cognition and ascertaining the mechanism of fall, we can lessen the financial burden on the NHS and minimise the radiation exposure to our patients.

Use and costs of inhaled nitric oxide and inhaled epoprostenol in adult critically ill patients: A quality improvement project

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (18) ◽  
pp. 1413-1419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie L Davis ◽  
Jessica R Crow ◽  
John R Fan ◽  
Katie Mattare ◽  
Glenn Whitman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Inhaled Nitric Oxide ◽  
Quality Improvement Project ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Number Of Patients

Abstract Purpose Inhaled epoprostenol and inhaled nitric oxide are pulmonary vasodilators commonly used in the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome and right ventricular failure; however, they have vastly different cost profiles. The purpose of the project was to transition from nitric oxide to epoprostenol as the inhaled pulmonary vasodilator (IPV) of choice in adult critically ill patients and evaluate the effect of the transition on associated usage and costs. Methods A single-center, prospective, before and after quality improvement project including adult patients receiving inhaled nitric oxide, inhaled epoprostenol, or both was conducted in 7 adult intensive care units, operating rooms, and postanesthesia care units of a tertiary care academic medical center. The total number of patients, hours of therapy, and costs for each agent were compared between stages of protocol implementation and annually. Results Seven hundred twenty-nine patients received inhaled nitric oxide, inhaled epoprostenol, or both during the study period. The monthly inhaled nitric oxide use in number of patients, hours, and cost decreased during all stages of the project (p < 0.01). The monthly inhaled epoprostenol use in number of patients, hours, and cost increased during all stages (p < 0.01). Overall, total IPV use increased during the study. However, despite this increase in usage, there was a 47% reduction in total IPV cost. Conclusion Implementation of a staged protocol to introduce and expand inhaled epoprostenol use in adult critically ill patients resulted in decreased use and cost of inhaled nitric oxide. The total cost of all IPV was decreased by 47% despite increased IPV use.

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