Quality was never far from mind during SIR 2024 in Salt Lake City, as evidenced by the turnout at SIR’s Quality and Performance Improvement Division interactive forum.
The forum focused on two specific QI projects. The first project was discussed in the presentation titled, “Implementation of a Standardized Post-Procedure Nursing Note for Interventional Radiology Procedures,” submitted by Jestina Wolff, MSN, RN, CCRN; Emily Fordyce, BSN, RN; Zoe Dane, BSN, RN, CCRN; Keaton Covert, BSN, RN and presented by Korynn Maduzia, BSN, RN-BC, CNIII from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Staff at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania implemented a standardized, IR post-procedure nursing note in accordance with best practice. According to the presenter, the previous absence of a standardized note format had been identified as a contributing factor in adverse patient events.
The standardized note format was implemented and reviewed through three Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, and 36 radiology nurses were trained on the new system. Since implementation, data review found no adverse safety events due to lapses in nursing care during recovery phase or inappropriate discharge due to miscommunication.
In effect, the use of a standardized post-procedure note improved nursing communication and handoff through transitions in phases of care, patient safety and nursing care in the recovery area as well as staff satisfaction with easier documentation.
The second project was described in “Optimizing Pre-procedure Order Set Improves Value of Care and Reduces Unnecessary Laboratory Utilization in Interventional Radiology,” submitted by Sabina Cashin, MD, and presented by John Acheson, MD, from Rush University Medical Center.
The project was inspired by the realization that, in the standardized pre-procedure order set, staff was only able to order a complete blood count (CBC) test with differential (DIFF), rather than just the CBC test alone. In addition to the testing time required (a simple CBC can be returned very quickly), there was a $40 difference between the two tests. Staff had both options added to the order set. They were picked at the physician’s discretion.
This project concluded that providing both CBC and CBC with DIFF on the order set reduced CBC with DIFF orders by nearly 80%, resulting in an estimated savings of nearly $140,000 in unnecessary patient charges per year.
“Small changes to routine tasks can have large effects,” said Dr. Acheson.
The forum also gave attendees the opportunity to discuss their quality improvement questions with SIR’s QPI Division leaders. Based on the forum’s attendance and caliber of the discussions, SIR plans to expand its quality improvement offerings at next year’s annual meeting.
