Articles: checklist.
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Thrombosis research · Sep 2014
Follow-up after four-year quality improvement program to prevent inferior limb deep vein thrombosis in intensive care unit.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a life-threatening complication in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and DVT incidence is used as a marker of quality care. In our ICU an educational program for implementation of DVT prophylaxis and ultrasound screening resulted in a remarkable decrease in DVT incidence which fell from 11.6% to 4.7%. The aim of this paper is to investigate a 4-year long persistent quality improvement of DVT prophylaxis obtained through the implementation of our educational intervention. ⋯ The direct involvement of ICU clinicians and nurses in the application of DVT prophylaxis and in DVT diagnosis markedly contributed to maintain a low DVT incidence over time, despite the high turnover of patients.
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Observational Study
Intensive care unit readmission prevention checklist: is it worth the effort?
Checklists have been adopted by various institutions to improve patient outcomes. In particular, readmission prevention checklists may be of potential value to improve patient care and reduce medical costs. As a result, a prior quality improvement study was conducted to create an intensive care unit readmission prevention checklist. The previous pilot demonstrated zero readmissions when the readmission prevention checklist was utilized but yielded low compliance (30%). Thus, a subsequent quality initiative was undertaken to refine the readmission prevention checklist with the primary aim of improved compliance while maintaining a reduced readmission rate that was observed with the original quality improvement study. ⋯ In conclusion, the findings of the current quality improvement study may serve to rethink the process of health care delivery that applies paper tools in an electronic medical environment.
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Critical care medicine · Aug 2014
Use of a Daily Goals Checklist for Morning ICU Rounds: A Mixed-Methods Study.
To understand the perspectives and attitudes of ICU clinicians about use of a daily goals checklist on rounds. ⋯ The daily goals checklist was perceived to improve the management of critically ill patients by creating a systematic, comprehensive approach to patient care and by setting individualized daily goals. Reportedly improving interprofessional communication and practice, the daily goals checklist also enhanced patient safety and daily progress, encouraging momentum in recovery from critical illness. Daily goals checklist review prompted teaching opportunities for multidisciplinary learners on morning rounds.
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Observational Study
Low-fidelity simulation improves mastery of the aseptic technique for labour epidurals: an observational study.
The objective of this study was to determine the impact of a low-fidelity simulation model on mastering the sterile technique during placement of epidural catheters. ⋯ This study describes a comprehensive teaching model for mastering the sterile technique during epidural catheter placement. It suggests that low-fidelity simulation improves the learning process when used in addition to conventional teaching.