Plan-Do-Study-Act Research Articles

The implementation of a pectus bar insertion enhanced recovery after surgery pathway: A quality improvement initiative.

Pectus excavatum repair is associated with significant discomfort, and pain is a primary contributor to postoperative hospital length of stay. Recent advances in postoperative pain control include the use of intercostal cryoablation techniques that may now make it possible to discharge patients on the day of surgery. Unnecessary variation in patient care and noncompliance with care bundles may be a factor in extended length of stay. The global aim of this quality improvement initiative was to successfully implement an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway on patients undergoing pectus excavatum repair. The SMART aim was to have a greater than 70% compliance for the perioperative bundle elements within 1 year of the pathway implementation. Multiple Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were designed to create and implement an ERAS pathway for patients undergoing a pectus bar insertion procedure. This multidisciplinary pathway was designed, managed, and implemented with key stakeholders from the Departments of Evidence Based Practice, Surgery, Anesthesiology, and Perioperative Nursing. Patient characteristics, outcomes, and compliance with elements of the pathway were measured for analysis for both the baseline and post-intervention groups with monthly automated reports. After implementation of the ERAS pathway, data on the first 50 patients showed a 90% compliance with the perioperative bundle elements. Mean length of stay was significantly decreased from 33 h (95% CI [28.76, 37.31]) to 18 h (95% CI [14.54, 21.70]). There were zero readmissions within 24 hours for patients who were discharged on the day of surgery. Employing a multidisciplinary approach in both planning and execution that standardized clinician practices and minimized unnecessary variation in patient care, an ERAS pathway for pectus bar insertion has been successfully established at our institution.

De-implementation of Fecal Occult Blood Testing in the Emergency Department and Hospital Units: A Quality Improvement Project.

Fecal occult blood tests (FOBT) are inappropriately used in patients with melena, hematochezia, coffee ground emesis, iron deficiency anemia, and diarrhea. The use of FOBT for reasons other than screening for colorectal cancer is considered low-value and unnecessary. Quality Improvement Project that utilized education, Best Practice Advisory (BPA) and modification of order sets in the electronic health record (EHR). The interventions were done in a sequential order based on the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) method. An annotated run chart was used to analyze the collected data. Education and Best Practice Advisory within the EHR led to significant reduction in the use of FOBT in the ED. The interventions eventually led to a consensus and removal of FOBT from the order set of the EHR for patients in the ED and hospital units. The use of electronic BPA, education and modification of order sets in the EHR can be effective at de-implementing unnecessary tests and procedures like FOBT in the ED and hospital units.

Reducing Time to Electroencephalography in Pediatric Convulsive Status Epilepticus: A Quality Improvement Initiative

BackgroundPediatric convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) is a neurological emergency utilizing electroencephalography (EEG) to guide therapeutic interventions. Guidelines recommend EEG initiation within one hour of seizure onset, but logistic and structural barriers often lead to significant delays. We aimed to reduce the time to EEG in pediatric CSE. MethodsFrom 2017 to 2022, we implemented process improvements, including EEG order sets with priority-based timing guidance, technologist workflow changes, a satisfaction survey, and feedback from key stakeholder groups, over five plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles. Seizure start time, time of EEG order, and time to EEG initiation were extracted. Time to interpretable EEG was determined from manual review of the EEG tracing. ResultsTime from EEG order to interpretable EEG decreased by nearly 50%, from a median of 90 minutes to 48 minutes. There were clinically and statistically significant improvements in time from EEG order to EEG initiation, time from EEG order to interpretable EEG, and EEG start to interpretable EEG. Ongoing provider education and guidance enabled improvements, whereas a new electronic health care record negatively impacted electronic ordering. EEG technologists reported that they understood the importance of emergent EEG for clinical care and did not find that the new workflow caused excessive disruption. ConclusionsTimely access to EEG for pediatric patients with CSE can be improved through clinical processes that use existing devices and that maintain the benefits of full-montage EEG recordings. Similar process improvement efforts may be generalizable to other institutions to increase adherence to guidelines and provide improved care.

Implementation of the Caprini risk assessment model (RAM) in surgical patients to decrease postsurgical venous thromboembolism and enoxaparin prescription at hospital discharge

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), has been an increasingly common post-surgical complication for surgical patients. In the United States, VTE has become a leading cause of preventable hospital death with more than half occurring after discharge and are directly linked to a recent (within 30 days) hospitalization or surgery [1]. In large, hospital-associated/acquired VTE (HA-VTE) are preventable through measures such as the use of risk stratification tools and chemoprophylaxis. The project institution, a community, academic, medical center, for multiple years has consistently remained a high outlier for postoperative VTE. Also, the choice of VTE chemoprophylaxis in surgical patients at the time of discharge depended on, and varied between, the individual prescribing physician. The goal was to implement and determine the efficacy of a standardized intervention tool, the Caprini risk assessment model (RAM), for reducing postoperative VTE complications and its influence on the physician's prescription of enoxaparin at discharge. Results: Risk assessment scoring pre-operatively increased from 0% baseline to 26.3% at Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle 1 and demonstrated a statistically significant change (p-value = 0.006). Risk assessment scoring pre-operatively was 42.9% by PDSA cycle 2 but was not statistically significantly different from PDSA cycle 1. Risk assessment scoring post-operatively (for eligible patients) remained the same throughout all three cycles at 0%. Appropriate prescription of anticoagulation declined from baseline (12.5%) to PDSA cycle 1 (0%), and improved at PDSA cycle 2 (33.3%), however no differences were significant (p-value 0.302). The National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) database showed a decline in VTE occurrences at the projects institution from baseline (1.02%, 6 occurrences, 2021) to PDSA cycle 2 (0.92%, 4 occurrences, 2022) when compared to the national benchmark (1.0%) for the first time since 2018. Given the significant national problem HA-VTE pose to the public, and the rise in occurrences, this quality improvement (QI) project is clinically relevant.

A quality-enhanced nursing project on the crash cart: The plan -do -study- act (PDSA) approach

A quality-enhanced nursing project on the crash cart: The plan -do -study- act (PDSA) approach

Advancing health equity in improving breast cancer screening with the use of a mobile mammography bus in marginalised population: quality improvement project

BackgroundBreast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women in the USA, is effectively treated through early detection and screening. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to improve...

Developing a transition workshop for adolescents with sickle cell disease

BackgroundThe transfer from paediatric to adult care presents a significant challenge for adolescents and young adults (AYA) with sickle cell disease (SCD). Disease self-management skills have been recognized as important mediators of poor health outcomes, but transition-related skills such as scheduling appointments and understanding the shift in health care responsibilities remain under taught in the healthcare system. The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) study was to (1) understand the areas of disease self-management that AYA patients felt underprepared for, and (2) design and evaluate an educational program addressing the top unmet skills. MethodsThe Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model was implemented in a tertiary outpatient clinic between September 2020 and July 2021. Patients were surveyed during regular clinic visits to identify their priorities on disease self-management skills. Based on the results, a virtual workshop was created and administered three separate times. Feedback was collected using an electronic survey. Results‘Navigating the adult health care system’ was the top self-management skill that AYA patients (n = 39) identified needing more support with. The majority of participants (79%, n = 14) reported that the virtual workshop was excellent, with ‘appointment management’ being the most useful topic discussed. Participants also reported feeling more confident (71%) and aware (86%) of how to navigate adult care. ConclusionThis QI study showed that delivering a virtual workshop on transition skills was well received by AYA participants with SCD. The PDSA framework was useful for identifying specific knowledge gaps in transition aged AYA to help improve patient education in a well-established transition program.

Coordinated patient outreach for reduction of unplanned postoperative 30-day readmission

ObjectiveThirty-day readmission rates after surgery are being increasingly used as a quality performance metric. Readmission rates in vascular surgery are frequently reported to be higher than other surgical specialties, and many coordinated efforts have been developed at local and national levels to reduce avoidable readmissions. MethodsWe constructed a multi-pronged readmission reduction quality improvement (QI) initiative aimed at addressing the clinical drivers of readmission after vascular surgery. Proposed interventions were implemented in Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles. Interventions aimed to improve patient communication and included post-discharge phone calls; mandatory follow-up before 2 weeks, with in-person visits required for all groin incisions and ischemic lower extremity wounds; and protocolized distribution of “calling cards,” which contained emergency and routine contact information. The primary outcome measure was 30-day readmission rate. ResultsAfter implementation of a multi-modal QI initiative, there was a statistically significant decrease in the 30-day readmission rate, from 14.1% to 8.2% (P = .02). A slightly higher percentage of readmissions, 57%, occurred within the first 2 weeks of discharge. ConclusionsThe consensus-driven development and implementation of a QI protocol to reduce 30-day readmission, based on increased patient communication and more standardized patient follow-up, showed promising results at our institution. Further efforts to improve readmission should focus on decreasing barriers to patient-provider communication after discharge.

DRIVE for Health Equity: Tailoring Quality Improvement, Clinical Education, and Community Engagement to Improve Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) Outcomes for Minoritized Communities in Oakland, California

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is influenced by various factors, with racial and ethnic minorities experiencing higher prevalence. Existing diabetes management programs focus on primary prevention, often neglecting optimal hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) management for individuals with prediabetes. Consistent HbA1c monitoring is crucial for comprehensive care. This study highlighted the need for secondary prevention and community collaboration to enhance health equity for individuals with T2DM. The DRIVE program, conducted by the National Minority Quality Forum's (NMQF) Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity (SHC), aimed to improve health outcomes for individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in Oakland, CA. Building on prior successes in New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Queens, NY, DRIVE employs a flexible and sustainable approach that integrates quality improvement strategies at clinic sites, focusing on patient and community engagement. The study addressed barriers to medication adherence, provided Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES), fostered community partnerships, and utilized culturally appropriate resources. The program's impact was evaluated through changes in HbA1c levels and community participation. Methods: A pre-and post-test design was used, targeting patients of Baywell Health, Oakland, CA, aged 18 and older with initial HbA1c levels greater than 9%. The intervention, developed using SHC’s DRIVE program, included components such as food distribution events, workflow enhancements, identification and mitigation of medication adherence barriers, rapid cycle improvement processes, community educational sessions, and the creation of patient resources. This two-year study implemented four Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, each lasting 2-4 months, following a three-month planning phase. HbA1c levels were measured at baseline, six months after implementation, and again at 18-month follow-up. Statistical Analysis Univariate analyses described demographic data, while paired sample t-tests assessed changes in HbA1c levels. Independent sample t-tests and ANOVA with pairwise comparisons were used to determine group differences. Results: Among the 255 participants, 58% identified as female and 42% as male. The majority were Black/African American (64%) and 73% were Non-Hispanic/Latino/a, with a mean age of 55.4 years. HbA1c levels were significantly reduced from an average of 10.3±1.4 to 9.4±2.1 at follow-up. Participants who enrolled the longest showed greater reductions. Community initiatives reached over 600 individuals, demonstrating the program's effectiveness in building partnerships and sustainability. Conclusion: SHC’s DRIVE program improved T2DM outcomes through community involvement, quality improvement, and culturally tailored education. This initiative highlighted the importance of addressing health inequities and barriers in diabetes care through culturally sensitive techniques and sustained interventions. DRIVE effectively reduced disparities and promoted sustainable health outcomes among minority groups. Collaborative efforts enhanced trust and demonstrated the advancement of health equity through tailored interventions, with DRIVE providing a flexible and sustainable framework for tailoring interventions to community needs. These findings underscored the need for individualized, culturally competent diabetes care, continuous education, community engagement, and equitable resource access to support communities of color and ethnic minorities in managing T2DM effectively.

Abnormal Colorectal Cancer Test Follow-Up: A Quality Improvement Initiative at a Federally Qualified Health Center.

Colonoscopy completion rates after an abnormal fecal immunochemical test (FIT) are suboptimal, resulting in missed opportunities for early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer. Patient navigation and structured follow-up may improve colonoscopy completion, but implementation of these strategies is not widespread. We conducted a quality improvement study using a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) Model to increase colonoscopy completion after abnormal FIT in a large federally qualified health center serving a diverse and low-income population. Intervention components included patient navigation, and a checklist to promote completion of key steps required for abnormal FIT follow-up. Primary outcome was proportion of patients achieving colonoscopy completion within 6 months of abnormal FIT, assessed at baseline for 156 patients pre-intervention, and compared to 208 patients during the intervention period from April 2017 to December 2019. Drop offs at each step in the follow-up process were assessed. Colonoscopy completion improved from 21% among 156 patients with abnormal FIT pre-intervention, to 38% among 208 patients with abnormal FIT during the intervention (P < .001; absolute increase: 17%, 95% CI: 6.9%-25.2%). Among the 130 non-completers during the intervention period, lack of completion was attributable to absence of colonoscopy referral for 7.7%; inability to schedule a pre-colonoscopy specialist visit for 71.5%; failure to complete a pre-colonoscopy visit for 2.3%; the absence of colonoscopy scheduling for 9.2%; failure to show for a scheduled colonoscopy for 9.2%. Patient navigation and structured follow-up appear to improve colonoscopy completion after abnormal FIT. Additional strategies are needed to achieve optimal rates of completion.

Culturally Inclusive and Gender Sensitive Menstrual Health Education: Nursing and Immigrant and Refugee Community Organizational Partnership

Background Worldwide period poverty results in gynecological infections and poor outcomes increased menorrhagia, or infections (candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis). Immigrants and refugees have minimal menstrual health education due to cultural taboos, inability to afford feminine hygiene products, and inappropriate use of menstrual reusable products or previous sanitization teachings. The Immigrant &amp; Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) needed evidence-based interventions to reduce period poverty via a culturally sensitive, and gender-affirming menstrual health hygiene program. The purpose of the menstrual health dignity scholarly project intervention was to increase knowledge, comfort, and confidence of community health staff educators (CHSEs) to provide effective client teaching Methods The Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory, Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) Model, and popular education interactive strategies guided the academic-community scholarly project partnership. Developed a cross-sectoral academic-community team partnership with CHSEs buy in; modified teaching in 2 PDSA cycles (100% attendance of at least 2 sessions); and used Power Points for lesson content, case studies, and technology to reinforce learning and menstrual cup and health brochure to increase CHSEs’ knowledge. Results Questionnaire scores showed increases of: knowledge (96% in at least 3 categories), confidence (100%) with increased capacity to provide appropriate menstrual health hygiene teaching, products, handouts, and guidance based on appropriate assessments. The results showed 92.3% overall positive comments about the menstrual health education provided including expressing enthusiasm for teaching menstrual health to all genders. Overall, 85.7% of people agreed they would use the information learned in this project for future work and found the education valuable. Conclusion The addition of menstrual health trainings with interactive popular education increased CHSEs’ knowledge, comfort, and confidence. Sustainability efforts included recorded lesson content education and encouragement to provide the menstrual cup and health brochure to refugee families upon agency admission.

A Bundled Educational Solution to Reduce Incorrect Plaster Splints Applied on Patients Discharged from Emergency Department

Purpose: Plaster splints are routinely performed in the Emergency Department (ED) and avoidable complications such as skin ulcerations and fracture instability arise mainly due to improper techniques. Despite its frequent use, there is often no formal training on the fundamental principles of plaster splint application for a medical officer rotating through ED. We aim to use Quality Improvement (QI) methodology to reduce number of incorrect plaster splint application to improve overall patient care via a bundled educational solution.Methods: We initiated a QI program implementing concepts derived from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement models, including Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, to decrease the rate of incorrect plaster splint application. A bundled education solution consisting of three sequential interventions (practical teaching session, online video lecture and quick reference cards) were formulated to specifically target critical factors that had been identified as the cause of incorrect plaster splints in ED.Results: With the QI intervention, our overall rate of incorrect plaster splints was reduced from 84.1% to 68.6% over a 6-month period.Conclusion: Following the QI project implementation of the bundled educational solution, there has been a sustained reduction in incorrect plaster splints application. The continuation of the training program also ensures the sustainability of our efforts in ED.

Beyond the Hospital: Redefining the Role of Pharmacists in Transitions of Care

Unjustifiable medication discrepancies or inconsistency are responsible for more than half of medication errors occurring at transitions in care and up to one-third could have the potential to cause harm. Studies have shown that pharmacist-led medication reconciliation programmes are effective at improving post-hospital healthcare utilisation. In Singapore, the Hospital-to-Home (H2H) programme in Changi General Hospital (CGH) focuses on providing care to vulnerable patients transitioning from different settings, who are exposed to gaps in care and lapses in quality and safety. The Home Medical Service by Pharmacists was pioneered in CGH and Singapore in October 2020 to enhance provision of pharmacy-related services by certified collaborative prescribing pharmacists in the home setting. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to identify provider and patient characteristics that are predictive of the response towards this new pharmacy service, which in turn influences the referrals to the service.&#x0D; A fishbone diagram was used to analyse and categorise the problems into different factors – pharmacist-, nursing-, physician-, patient-, and process-related. Pharmacist-, nursing- and physician-related factors include poor awareness of the potential value-added roles of pharmacists due to the lack of prescribing experience in the home setting. Patient-related factors include difficulty in establishing the appropriate criteria to identify patients who need pharmacist’s intervention. Process-related factors include potential additional cost to patients.&#x0D; Based on the Model of Improvement, several changes were implemented in two Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles. The first cycle was to perform roadshows to the H2H team comprising of physicians and nurses, to raise awareness of the new pharmacy service and pharmacist's roles (more in-depth medication reconciliation, drug information, and prescribing). After three months, the second cycle was initiated by conducting regular monthly case audits with the H2H team to monitor progress, identify lapses, and receive feedback to further improve processes and explore potential areas that pharmacists can contribute.&#x0D; After implementing PDSA cycle 1, the average number of unique home visits by pharmacists per month increased from 1 visit to 4 visits, and subsequently increased to 8 visits after implementing PDSA cycle 2. A survey was also conducted to determine if the changes implemented were satisfactory to the team. Overall, 80% of responses were satisfied with the Home Medical Service by Pharmacists in managing patients under the H2H programme.&#x0D; This project had enabled us to achieve improvements in several processes which facilitated the refinement of pharmacist’s roles in the H2H programme to complement the team’s current roles and increased awareness of these roles within the team. Lastly, we will continue to further improve other problem areas yet be addressed and together with the H2H team, close the gaps in care for patients undergoing transitions of care.

Development of a Pipeline for Removing Allergy Labels in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Penicillin allergy is reported by 10-20 % of patients, but when evaluated only 1-2% may have a true allergy. Patients undergoing HSCT have a high likelihood of requiring beta-lactam antibiotics due to increased infection risk, which can be limited by a penicillin allergy label. When a penicillin allergy is recorded, alternatives are needed including more-expensive, broader-spectrum antibiotics, with increases in drug-resistant bacteria, longer hospital stays, higher expenditures, and increases in nosocomial infections such as C. difficile colitis. This group of patients already has extensive pre-treatment testing, and would particularly benefit from allergy de-labeling. This study aimed to develop a self-sustaining, low-cost pipeline between a HSCT clinic and an allergy clinic to identify and successfully de-label low-risk patients who endorse an allergy to penicillin, amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, piperacillin-tazobactam, or ampicillin before admission to the hospital. We developed a survey to triage allergy risk, identified key stakeholders in building the pipeline, and underwent four plan, do, study, act (PDSA) cycles. Changes were made in each of the PDSA cycles to minimize cost and uncompensated provider time as well as increase patient retention throughout the pipeline by increasing appointment availability and decreasing reliance on patients to independently progress through the pathway. Of the 410 patients with planned HSCT who were screened over 11 months, we found that 89 (21.7%) patients were listed as having penicillin and/or beta lactam allergy. 98.5% (n=66/67) of participants completed the survey accurately when confirmed by an allergist, and the survey was 100% accurate in predicting de-labeling success in low-risk patients. Of eligible patients, 43.8% (n=39) were successfully de-labeled before their transplant date and 97.4% (n=38) have undergone HSCT to date. This pipeline is maintained by approximately 5 hours of work per week (1 hour of allergy physician time, 4 hours of nurse and/or clinical coordinator time) and no other direct costs. There is an estimated direct savings of at least $1,914.93 per patient de-labeled. We successfully designed and implemented a pipeline between the HSCT clinic and the allergy clinic as a quality improvement initiative to identify and address high rates of reported beta-lactam allergies. We identified and addressed patient-based factors, logistical, temporal, and financial barriers that impacted patient retention and sustainability. This model is expected to have significant and sustained cost-savings for the healthcare system as well as improve patient outcomes, and this hypothesis is currently undergoing formal analysis. We anticipate that this model can be used to create a similar pipeline in other healthcare systems for HSCT patients as well as other clinical settings such as oncology and CAR-T therapy.

Social workers roles in achieving health quality metrics in primary care: a quality improvement case study

ABSTRACT Value-based payment models may improve patient health by targeting quality of care over quantity of health services. Social workers in primary care settings are well-positioned to improve the quality of health services for vulnerable patients by identifying and addressing patients’ social determinants of health. This case study describes a Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) quality improvement approach implemented and refined by social workers to proactively address clinical quality gaps in one family medicine practice. The studied program – entitled Gap Closure Day – was led by a team of social workers to improve quality outcomes of patients. Findings highlight the important roles of social workers as members of health care teams to improve the quality of health services and address health equity.

Improving maternal update rates within the first hour of NICU admission.

Timely communication is essential in attaining maternal satisfaction, developing an excellent physician-patient rapport, and increasing trust. This study reports a significant improvement in maternal communication rates through the quality improvement method. An educational module was developed, and NICU staff was presented with the slides, followed by a performance questionnaire to demonstrate understanding. The first phase was completed by obtaining feedback from mothers through a questionnaire. The first plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycle, carried out for eight weeks looking at the rates of the maternal update provided within an hour of admission of their neonates to the NICU, was followed by the second PDSA cycle, carried out for ten weeks. The improvement was calculated using conventional statistics and a statistical process control chart. During the first phase of the study, thirty-six percent of the mothers were updated within an hour of admission of their neonates to the NICU. During the first PDSA cycle, we did not notice a special cause variation or process change. A significant shift, eight consecutive points above the mean, was noted on the control chart during PDSA cycle 2. The mean±SD of the weekly update rate increased significantly during PDSA cycle 2 (76.8±11) compared to PDSA cycle 1 (47.5±14), p-value = 0.0002. We improved the maternal update rates through the educational module following the QI improvement model using the PDSA cycles.

Pharmacy-driven performance improvement initiative to increase compliance with intravenous smart pump drug error reduction systems at a large urban academic medical center.

Smart pump dose error reduction systems (DERS) reduce errors for intravenous (IV) administration medications by warning users of order, calculation, and programming errors. The purpose of this performance improvement initiative was to increase IV smart pump DERS usage from 77% to 95% at a large, urban academic medical center. A pharmacy-led team with nurses, physicians, and quality improvement specialists executed interventions from July 2020 through April 2022 to increase DERS compliance. A discovery phase (phase I) was followed by 6 Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles created to address barriers to DERS utilization. Phase I revealed that problems involving the DERS library and bedside nurse training were the major drivers of noncompliance. Phase II consisted of 3 system-level PDSA cycles, and phase III included 3 focused group PDSA cycles. Data were collected monthly from the smart pump reporting software by the informatics pharmacist and analyzed by the team to assess compliance rates in response to the corresponding interventions. The median DERS compliance increased from 77% to 83% over the 2-year period, which correlates with approximately 109,000 additional infusions run on DERS each year within our institution. The implementation of a DERS problem reporting tool accessed through the medication administration record resulted in the most pronounced improvement. DERS compliance improved following system-level sustainable interventions, although further PDSA cycles are needed to meet the goal DERS utilization rate of 95%. The results of this study may help other institutions attempting to improve DERS utilization create targeted interventions.

Local education measures are insufficient at ensuring timely imaging in acute pancreatitis

Abstract Aims The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) has outlined specific criteria for imaging in acute pancreatitis. The presence of pancreatic necrosis, free intraperitoneal fluid and extensive perihepatic fat stranding is associated with worse outcome. Timely computed tomography (CT) scanning 72 to 96 hours following onset of symptoms leads to more accurate diagnosis of pancreatic necrosis. Furthermore, ultrasound examination of the gallbladder is also recommended within 24 hours of admission to demarcate cause. Methods Two plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles were run between January to October 2022 and January to September 2023 in the surgical emergency unit. 50 patients were randomly selected amongst all pancreatitis admissions for each cycle. Outcome measures were percentage of CT scans adhering to optimal timing and percentage of ultrasound scans that were carried out within the first 24 hours. Cycle 1 findings were presented locally to staff as a teaching intervention. Results CT scans were performed in 60% and 66% of patients in cycle 1 and 2, respectively. Of these, 39% and 70% had optimal CT scan timing during cycle 1 and 2, respectively. Furthermore, only 33% of patients had US scans performed within 24 hours of admission during both cycles. Conclusion The above findings suggest that local teaching interventions are inadequate at meeting the recommended standard of 95% compliance defined by the RCR. This is likely due to rotating staff, lack of knowledge and incomplete prompting when ordering imaging. Further audit with an information technology based intervention is suggested to improve compliance.

Reducing violence and aggression: a quality improvement project for safety on an acute mental health ward

Violence and aggression (V&A) are identified as an issue on mental health wards that negatively affect staff, patients, care delivery and safety. This project took place on a male acute...

Reducing Operating Room (OR) Cancellations: Results from a Quality Improvement Study from a Tertiary Care Children's Cancer Center

Introduction: Operating Room (OR) is a critical resource that may be used inefficiently in pediatric hematology oncology services and surgical cancellations is a major cause of OR underutilization with major implications on cost-savings, patient satisfaction, quality-of-care and hospital metrics. The purpose of this performance improvement (PI) study was to reduce the surgical cancellation rate by 10% (Pre-PI cancellation rate,22%) at pediatric hematology oncology services at a large tertiary care children's cancer center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle was adapted as project methodology on this performance improvement study. Preoperative checklist was created using REDCap electronic data capture tool hosted at our institution, also served as project database. Daily OR -Huddle was conducted to identify key points of intervention that included customized medical plans involving provision of pre-anesthesia evaluation clinic, sub-specialized inpatient and outpatient consultations, blood product support, while intervention required for improved communication included patient and nursing education. Patients were re-evaluated and preoperative checklist rechecked for provision of 24-hour notice of cancellation to the OR-scheduling team. All elective procedures scheduled between November 2021 and December 2022 were included, cancelled procedures were examined to identify potential reasons. Results: During the PI period, a total of 1063 elective surgical procedures were scheduled, majority 77% (816) were line-related, followed by bone marrow harvest in stem cell transplant donors, 11% (118) ; dental extraction and restoration, 6% (63) ; bone marrow aspiration or biopsy,4% (47) and other (lumbar puncture, Intrathecal chemotherapy etc.) procedures ,2% (19). Majority 58% (621), of the procedures scheduled for malignant diagnoses; followed by stem cell harvests or patients requiring line-insertion for stem cell infusion in 29% (308) and non-malignant diagnoses in 13% (134). Post-intervention, surgical cancellation observed in 54 cases, with majority 93% (50) being line-related cancellation. When compared to the pre-intervention period (12 months prior to PI-project initiation) rate of surgical cancellation dropped from 22% to 5% resulting in 17% improvement. Root cause analysis reports a significant decrease in cancellation related to inappropriate preoperative workup, 40%; followed by co-morbid conditions related to patients disease requiring sub-specialized consultation in 29% ; insufficient routine blood tests in 19% and inappropriate patient education in 8%. The preoperative checklist was approved and adapted as standard of care - clinical pathway to be integrated with the institutional Electronic medical records. Conclusion: In our experience, the observed high rate of elective OR cancellations were associated with ineffective preoperative workflow, team communication, patient coordination and education. Post-intervention measures enabled a visual system to harmonize patients' preoperative progress and the multi-disciplinary, daily OR-Huddle allowed lean-decision minimizing “last minute” cancellations. These interventions are easy to replicate against available resources by other tertiary care centers to improve inefficient OR utilization. Cost-effectiveness analysis resulting from the improvement is warranted.