G86 Improving discharge summary quality in a greenfield single room quaternary neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

Background Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Discharge Summary (DS) provides continuity of care and ensures safe patient transition between hospital and community. Inadequate NICU DS documentation contributes to medical errors and loss of follow up. Our goal is to improve the DS quality through use of a standard template to decrease identified deficiencies. Aims Increase use of a standardized template for DS to >90% in 6 months Improve quality of DS to >85% in 6 months Achieve the state of no deficiencies in the DS to >80% in 6 months. Methods Study Design: Prospective PDSA (Plan, Do, Study, Act) cycle-based Quality Improvement Project. Study Setting: 54 bedded quaternary level NICU, Doha, Qatar. Study Period: January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. Phase 1: January to May 2019: Pre-intervention phase: Conducted an anonymous DS survey and audit and provided education on improving DS qualities in several team group meetings Phase 2: June to August 2019: Intervention phase: Designed new DS template and implemented in daily care along with other interventions bundle Phase 3: September to December 2019: Post-intervention phase: Regular monthly audit or quality check and feedback Definitions Template: A structured DS processes and framework. Quality: The standard of the DS measured with apriori outcome measures. Deficiencies: Missing or inaccurate required information on DS documentation. Results Conclusion The NICU DS quality improvement project initiative achieved the goals of improved DS quality, increased use of a standardized template for DS, and decreased the deficiencies in DS. Going forward, we plan to continue with regular audits to maintain DS quality.