Keeping a 2009 Design Award-Winning Intensive Care Unit Current: A 13-Year Case Study.

In a complex medical center environment, the occupants of newly built or renovated spaces expect everything to "function almost perfectly" immediately upon occupancy and for years to come. However, the reality is usually quite different. The need to remediate initial design deficiencies or problems not noted with simulated workflows may occur. In our intensive care unit (ICU), we were very committed to both short-term and long-term enhancements to improve the built and technological environments in order to correct design flaws and modernize the space to extend its operational life way beyond a decade. In this case study, we present all the improvements and their background in our 20-bed, adult medical-surgical ICU. This ICU was the recipient of the Society of Critical Care Medicine's 2009 ICU Design Award Citation. Our discussion addresses redesign and repurposing of ICU and support spaces to accommodate expanding clinical or entirely new programs, new regulations and mandates; upgrading of new technologies and informatics platforms; introducing new design initiatives; and addressing wear and tear and gaps in security and disaster management. These initiatives were all implemented while our ICU remained fully operational. Proposals that could not be implemented are also discussed. We believe this case study describing our experiences and real-life approaches to analyzing and solving challenges in a dynamic environment may offer great value to architects, designers, critical care providers, and hospital administrators whether they are involved in initial ICU design or participate in long-term ICU redesign or modernization.

Development of a Simple and Practical Delirium Screening Tool for Use in Surgical Wards.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is an important and common medical condition, particularly in hospitalized patients, that is associated with adverse outcomes. The identification, prevention, and treatment of delirium are increasingly regarded as major public health priorities. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to create a simple-to-use screening tool for delirium in hospitalized patients using clinical manifestations of delirium regularly observed by nurses. METHODS: This study was conducted using data on 2,168 patients who had been admitted to the surgical ward between January 2011 and December 2014. Data were collected retrospectively from medical records. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed, and a logistic regression model was constructed for the development of a predictive screening tool. After constructing a new screening tool for delirium, a receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn, the most appropriate cutoff value was decided, and the area under the curve was obtained. Bootstrapping was used for the internal model validation. RESULTS: A screening tool for delirium (Subjective Delirium Screening Scale by Nurse) with a total score of 5 points was constructed as follows: 2 points for disorientation and 1 point each for restlessness, somnolence, and hallucination. The area under the curve for the Subjective Delirium Screening Scale by Nurse was 81.9% (95% CI [77.9%, 85.8%]), and the most appropriate cutoff value was determined to be 2 (sensitivity of 61.0% and specificity of 96.7%). Bootstrapped validation beta coefficients of the predictive factors were similar to the original cohort beta coefficients. CONCLUSIONS: We created a screening tool for delirium using factors that were regularly observed and recorded by nurses. This tool is simple and practical and has adequate diagnostic accuracy.

Adaptation of software with the nursing process for innovation units / Adaptación de software con el proceso de enfermería para unidades de internación / Adaptação de software com o processo de enfermagem para unidades de internação

ABSTRACT Objective: To adapt data collection of the Information System software with the nursing process in Intensive Therapy for use in medical and surgical clinic units. Methods: A descriptive study developed in three stages. The first consisted of team training; in the second, the software was applied in clinical practice with 100 patients; and in the third, we analyzed the modifications to be done. Results: There was inter-observer agreement of 91%, followed by application of the software in 100 patients. In the "patient registration" module, it was suggested the exclusion of one item, inclusion of six and modification of four of them. In the anamnesis screens, no items were flagged to be deleted; 26 inclusions and 7 changes were proposed. In the physical examination screens, it was suggested the exclusion of 31 items, inclusion of 26 and modification of 27. Conclusion: Modifying information systems and going through stages methodologically constructed and implemented was important.

RESUMEN Objetivo: adaptar la etapa de recolección de datos del software Sistema de Información con el Proceso de Enfermería en Terapia Intensiva para uso en unidades de clínica médica y quirúrgica. Métodos: estudio descriptivo desarrollado en tres etapas. La primera consistió en la capacitación del equipo; la segunda, en la aplicación del software a la práctica clínica con 100 pacientes y; la tercera, en el análisis de las modificaciones que se deben llevar a cabo. Resultados: se obtuvo concordancia interobservador del 91 %, seguida de aplicación del software a 100 pacientes. En el módulo de registro de los pacientes, se sugirió la exclusión de un ítem, la inclusión de seis ítems y la modificación de cuatro. En las pantallas de Anamnesis, no se señaló ningún ítem que excluir; se propusieron 26 inclusiones y siete modificaciones. En las pantallas del examen físico se sugirió la exclusión de 31 ítems, la inclusión de 26 y la modificación de 27. Conclusión: se observa la importancia de modificar sistemas de información, avanzando por etapas metodológicamente construidas e implementadas.

RESUMO Objetivo: adaptar a etapa de coleta de dados do software Sistema de Informação com o Processo de Enfermagem em Terapia Intensiva para uso em unidades de clínica médica e cirúrgica. Métodos: estudo descritivo desenvolvido em três etapas. A primeira consistiu na capacitação da equipe, na segunda o software foi aplicado na prática clínica com 100 pacientes e na terceira analisaram-se as modificações a serem realizadas. Resultados: obteve-se concordância inter-observador de 91%, seguido por aplicação do software em 100 pacientes. No módulo cadastro dos pacientes foi sugerida a exclusão de um item, incluídos seis e modificados quatro. Nas telas de Anamnese, nenhum item foi sinalizado para ser excluído; foram propostas 26 inclusões e sete alterações. Nas telas do exame físico foi sugerida a exclusão de 31 itens, a inclusão de 26 e 27 modificações. Conclusão: Observa-se a importância de modificar sistemas de informação, perpassando por etapas metodologicamente construídas e implementadas.

Software for systematization of nursing care in medical units / Software para sistematización de la Atención de Enfermería en unidad de internación hospitalaria / Software para Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem em unidade de internação hospitalar

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the development of a software prototype to apply the nursing process in clinical units of a general hospital, and assess its usefulness. Method: Applied methodological research of technological production of a program based on prototyping software engineering developed in three stages: specification, development, and validation. Results: Produced under the name of INFOSAE, the system represents a set of stages (history, diagnosis, expected outcomes, and nursing intervention) providing guidance to nurses to direct and guarantee the necessary care to patients, also allowing an assessment of this care. Conclusion: The INFOSAE software prototype, an easy-to-use computerized technology, obtained a favorable assessment by the user nurses that participated in the whole development process, from the specification to the validation of the system.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Describir el desarrollo de un software prototipo para aplicar el Proceso de Enfermería en unidades de clínica médica de un hospital general y evaluar su utilidad. Método: Investigación metodológica aplicada de producción tecnológica de un software, basada en la ingeniería de software piloto, desarrollada en tres fases: especificación, desarrollo y validación. Resultado: Programado bajo la denominación de INFOSAE, el sistema representa un conjunto de etapas (Histórico, Diagnóstico, Resultados esperados e Intervención de enfermería), que brinda orientación a los enfermeros para dirigir y garantizar la atención necesaria al paciente, permitiendo también evaluar dicha atención. Conclusión: El software prototipo INFOSAE, tecnología informática de fácil aplicación, contó con evaluación favorable por parte de los enfermeros usuarios que participaron de todo el proceso de desarrollo, desde la especificación hasta la validación del sistema.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever o desenvolvimento de um software protótipo para aplicar o Processo de Enfermagem em unidades de clínica médica de um hospital geral e avaliar sua utilidade. Método: Pesquisa metodológica aplicada de produção tecnológica de um software, baseada na engenharia de software de prototipação, desenvolvida em três fases: especificação, desenvolvimento e validação. Resultado: Produzido com a denominação de INFOSAE, o sistema representa um conjunto de etapas (Histórico, Diagnóstico, Resultados esperados e Intervenção de enfermagem) que fornece orientação aos enfermeiros para direcionar e garantir a assistência necessária ao paciente, possibilitando ainda avaliar essa assistência. Conclusão: O software protótipo INFOSAE, tecnologia informatizada de fácil aplicação, teve avaliação favorável dos enfermeiros usuários que participaram de todo o processo de desenvolvimento, desde a especificação até a validação do sistema.

Education practices: research-action with nurses of Family Health Strategy / Prácticas educativas: investigación-acción con enfermeros de la Estrategia de Salud de la Familia / Práticas educativas: pesquisa-ação com enfermeiros da Estratégia de Saúde da Família

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the factors that determine the implementation of educational practices of health promotion and to construct proposals to implement the educational actions of the nurses of the Family Health Units (FHU). Method: research-action in which individual interviews and focus group were conducted, with 17 nurses from 12 FHU in the city of Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre state, Brazil. The results were organized by the thematic analysis method. Results: the thematic units emerged from the analysis: dichotomy between knowledge and doing in the production of care and health; the nurse's qualification for educational practices; and conditions favorable to health education practices. Conclusion: the thematic analysis showed that the educational practice is hampered by the high demand for care in the unit, lack of physical structure and professional qualification for health education. In the action phase, nurses and local managers agreed on actions to improve the quality of educational practices.

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar los factores que determinan la implementación de prácticas educativas de promoción de la salud y diseñar propuestas para efectuar las acciones educativas de los enfermeros de las Unidades de Salud de la Familia (USF). Método: investigación-acciones en las cuales se realizaron entrevistas individuales y grupo focal, con 17 enfermeros de 12 USFs de la ciudad Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brasil. Los resultados fueron organizados según el método de análisis temático. Resultados: han aparecido del análisis las unidades temáticas: dicotomía entre el saber y el hacer en la producción del cuidado y salud; la cualificación del enfermero para las prácticas educativas; y condiciones favorables a las prácticas de educación en salud. Conclusión: el análisis temático mostró que la práctica educativa es dificultada por la alta demanda de atención en la unidad, falta de estructura física y calificación profesional para la educación en salud. En la fase de acción, los enfermeros y gestores locales pactaron acciones para mejorar la calidad de las prácticas educativas.

RESUMO Objetivos: identificar os fatores que determinam a implementação de práticas educativas de promoção da saúde e construir propostas para efetivar as ações educativas dos enfermeiros das Unidades de Saúde da Família (USF). Método: pesquisa-ação em que foram realizadas entrevistas individuais e grupo focal, com 17 enfermeiros de 12 USFs do município de Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brasil. Os resultados foram organizados pelo método de análise temática. Resultados: emergiram da análise as unidades temáticas: dicotomia entre o saber e o fazer na produção do cuidado e saúde; a qualificação do enfermeiro para as práticas educacionais; e condições favoráveis às práticas de educação em saúde. Conclusão: a análise temática mostrou que a prática educativa é dificultada pela alta demanda de atendimento na unidade, falta de estrutura física e qualificação profissional para a educação em saúde. Na fase ação, os enfermeiros e gestores locais pactuaram ações para melhorar a qualidade das práticas educativas.