Incorporating a Resident-Driven Quality Improvement Process Change Through a Lean Transformation of Post-Partum Hemorrhage (PPH) Care

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate a resident-driven quality improvement lean event to improve satisfaction in PPH management. BACKGROUND: Interdisciplinary PPH response strategies are recommended as standard of care. OBGYN resident perceptions regarding PPH management prompted an interprofessional quality improvement lean event to create a systems process change on the post-partum unit. METHODS: This was a pre-/post-intervention study evaluating the impact of a lean event that created new hemorrhage protocols (intervention) on postpartum units including: medication safety bundle, assigned/clarified roles for providers, and a streamlined communication process. The survey queried respondents regarding team communication, access to uterotonics and analgesia, and perception of overall patient safety during PPH. It was administered to resident physicians and post-partum nurses prior to the system changes and at 6 and 12-month intervals. These results were compared using nonparametric analyses. RESULTS: Participants included 15 residents and 16 nurses. Pre-intervention, there was a significant difference in the overall perception of safety when comparing resident and nurse response (p=0.0495) with residents perceiving a less safe environment. Post-intervention, overall satisfaction among the 2 groups was improved at the 6 & 12 month intervals (p<0.05) without discrepancy between the groups. Nurse results demonstrated significantly increased satisfaction with team communication and IV access protocols (p<0.05). DISCUSSION: Resident led quality improvement events can result in improved satisfaction of interprofessional team members in PPH care with improvements maintained over 12 months. Reaching a shared perception and mental model between nursing and residents in the care of PPH can further be studied from the patient’s perspective.