Improvement of Access to Carotid Ultrasound Testing in Outpatient Clinics

Abstract

occurred at 0700. A checklist was developed to record information regarding the patients’ stays. Medication management and patient-care documentation was audited to assess accuracy and compliance. As documentation requirements and standards of care are uniquely different among patients still recovering from anesthesia versus patients released from anesthesia care and transitioned to divisional processes, multiple educational in-services were provided to staff regarding expectations. Night staff participated in rounding and provided information regarding successes and barriers to providing optimal care. Mechanisms were put into place to offer patients visitations with their families, nutritional meals and other comfort measures. Outcome: Collaboration of the clinical nurse specialist and clinical pharmacist in the PACU provided many processimprovement implementations in the management of patients who board in the PACU environment. A process was developed to streamline medication distributions from the pharmacy. Auditing of documentation offered an opportunity to in-service staff on specific standards required for these unique patients. A system of identifying which physician to call regarding patient concerns was implemented. Safe, quality care occurs through constant process review on daily rounds.