Purposeful Hourly Rounding to Decrease Peripheral Intravenous Infiltrations and Extravasations in Pediatrics.

PURPOSE: Pediatric patients are at high risk for peripheral intravenous infiltrations and extravasations (PIVIE) resulting in patient harm. Structured hourly rounding has demonstrated to improve quality outcomes. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement structured hourly rounding to decrease the median rate of moderate PIVIE rates from 3.13 to 2.58 per thousand patient days over a 6-month time period in pediatric patients with infusing continuous IV fluids. DESIGN AND METHODS: A pilot was conducted to hardwire hourly assessments for peripheral intravenous lines (PIV) in pediatric patients with continuous fluids utilizing a structured hourly rounding process. Bedside nurses utilized the P.A.T.H. model to assess pain management (P), assess PIVs for early PIVIE recognition (A), address things patient and family may need (T), and reduce the occurrence in hospital acquired conditions (H). Data was collected on unit nurse sensitive indicators and compliance to hourly rounding. RESULTS: Structured hourly rounding using the P.A.T.H. model successfully hardwired hourly PIV assessments. The unit reduced their median moderate PIVIE rate to 1.83 per thousand patient days, an 41% improvement. The pilot also had positive unintended consequences of improved pain reassessment from 67% to 100%, increased patient satisfaction scores of 67% to 97% and reduced patient falls by 29%. CONCLUSIONS: Structured hourly rounding using the P.A.T.H. model can positively hardwire hourly PIV assessments in pediatric patients. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Sustainability of hourly rounding requires leadership support and nursing commitment to impact quality metrics. Organizations should consider implementing focused hourly rounding to address PIVIEs.

Reducing central line-associated bloodstream infection in contaminated central venous catheters: case studies of a pediatric contamination guideline.

Healthcare organizations have prioritized patient safety and quality improvement efforts to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). Implementation of central venous catheter (CVC) insertion and maintenance bundles have significantly reduced infection rates. Nevertheless, CLABSIs continue to be a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in hospitals, and further efforts are necessary to improve CVC care practices. A hospital-wide committee at a tertiary care pediatric hospital identified gaps in our CVC maintenance practices resulting from CVC contamination events from a patient's body fluids. A lack of published literature on the topic resulted in the need to create an institutional clinical practice guideline (CPG) to develop guidance to mitigate potential CLASBIs from CVC contamination. Utilization of the CVC CPG in all inpatient units and other reduction strategies resulted in a steady decline in our CLABSI rates, particularly in those related to CVC contamination events. Case reports illustrate the effectiveness of the CPG.