Intravenous therapy safety assessment

October 26, 2008

Email this news item to a friend/colleague Email this news item to a friend/colleague

Scroggs, S. (2008) Improving patient safety using clinical needs assessments in IV therapy. British Journal of Nursing (IV therapy supplement). 17(19), p.S22-28.

Abstract:

A clinical needs assessment (CNA) consulting programme was initiated with the NHS Healthcare Purchasing Consortium to improve safety and reduce risk in intravenous (IV) therapy through standardization, best practice guideline adherence and ensuring adequate training. The results of CNAs conducted at two acute NHS Trusts (A and B) are summarized. Fifteen-minute ‘pump needs assessment’ and ‘clinical practice review’ interviews were conducted with junior and senior staff members, and recommendations were made to a multidisciplinary Trust-steering committee. Post-assessment recommendations included: standardizing to one pump type with active medication error reduction software, purchasing optimal numbers of IV pumps, implementing best practice guidelines and protocols to minimize unnecessary IV set tear-down (removing and replacing IV set), the use of standardized accessories and ensuring adequate training. Both assessments showed that streamlining, best practice adherence and training could result in pronounced cost savings and improve patient safety. Importantly, the cost savings could facilitate implementation of CNA recommendations. The Trusts have since prioritized standardizing IV pumps and accessories and future implementation of medication error software. The CNA is a valuable tool for Trusts that positively impacts on patient safety.

More IV news at IVTEAM

Other stories

Written by IVTEAM · Filed Under All, IV Literature 

Add IVTEAM to Technorati Favorites del.icio.us:Intravenous therapy safety assessment digg:Intravenous therapy safety assessment spurl:Intravenous therapy safety assessment wists:Intravenous therapy safety assessment simpy:Intravenous therapy safety assessment newsvine:Intravenous therapy safety assessment blinklist:Intravenous therapy safety assessment furl:Intravenous therapy safety assessment reddit:Intravenous therapy safety assessment fark:Intravenous therapy safety assessment blogmarks:Intravenous therapy safety assessment Y!:Intravenous therapy safety assessment smarking:Intravenous therapy safety assessment magnolia:Intravenous therapy safety assessment segnalo:Intravenous therapy safety assessment gifttagging:Intravenous therapy safety assessment

Comments

Please leave a comment?