Impact of improvement efforts on glycemic control and hypoglycemia at a university medical center.

BACKGROUND: Great emphasis is placed on optimizing treatment of hospitalized patients with diabetes and hyperglycemia. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine if the application of hospital-wide insulin order sets improved inpatient safety by reducing the number of actual hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events and increasing at-target blood glucose. DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was conducted of hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events and at-target blood glucose occurring before and after institution of the insulin order sets and blood glucose protocols. SETTING: The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Medical Center is a 709-bed hospital and tertiary referral center for partnering hospitals in the southeastern United States. PATIENTS: All patients were evaluated who had a documented history of diabetes or who had at least 1 finger-stick blood glucose above 180 mg/dL who were admitted for care to the MUSC adult main hospital (minimum of 18 years-of-age; maximum 100 years-of-age) during June 2004, June 2005, June 2006, and June 2007. INTERVENTION: The intervention involved institution of hospital-wide hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, subcutaneous insulin, and intravenous insulin treatment protocols. MEASUREMENTS: Retrospective data on hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and at-target blood glucose incidence and frequency were collected via a computerized repository for all inpatients. RESULTS: The percent time in range improved by 10% with no increase in the amount of severe hypoglycemic episodes for the blood glucose results. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing standardized insulin order sets including hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia treatment protocols at MUSC produced expected benefits for patient safety for this patient population.

Improving hyperglycemia in the hospital: outcomes of a nursing in-service to evaluate acceptance of a web-based insulin infusion calculator.

BACKGROUND: Many insulin infusion protocols are available for clinical use. We developed a Web-based, online intravenous insulin infusion calculator (IVIIC) for use in our intensive care and medical-surgical units. METHODS: In September 2006, we implemented a quality improvement project: an online survey to evaluate the acceptance of this protocol by the nursing staff. Of the 103 registered nurses (RNs) who participated, there was no difference among experience levels of the RNs (>/= or <5 years) or among durations that RNs had been working within their unit (>/= or <2 years). RESULTS: The nurses were surveyed regarding the use and interpretation of the protocol, their comfort with, confidence in, and experience in using the protocol. More than 80% of the RNs found the protocol easy to implement, easy to interpret, and successful in controlling the blood glucose levels. Approximately 71% (+/-9%) of the RNs were comfortable with the tight blood glucose levels of the protocol. The nurses' confidence with the protocol was 82% (+/-8%), likely because 70% (+/-9%) of the nurses believed the training to be adequate. Significantly less than 25% of the RNs (18 +/- 7%) believed it was necessary to deviate from the protocol. More than 85% of the RNs appreciated the ability to make changes at their level of practice (92 +/- 5%). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the IVIIC is well accepted by RNs for care of hyperglycemia in a hospital setting.

Outcomes of a cardiothoracic intensive care web-based online intravenous insulin infusion calculator study at a Medical University Hospital.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine whether a web-based, on-line intravenous insulin (IVI) infusion calculator (IVIIC) program for the delivery of IVI therapy in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients was superior to a prior IVI protocol used in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit at our institution. METHODS: The study included 97 CABG patients studied from October 2004 to February 2005 pre-protocol (type 2 diabetes) and October 2005 to February 2006 post-protocol (with or without type 2 diabetes). The IVIIC was programmed to resemble an algorithm whereby any patient with type 2 diabetes or a blood glucose (BG) greater than 120 mg/dL was started on IVI with an insulin sensitivity factor, a multiplier of 0.03. The calculator used the following mathematical formula: rate of insulin infusion/hour = (current BG - 60 mg/dL) x 0.03. RESULTS: Pre- and post-protocol groups for patients with type 2 diabetes were similar in all demographics measured, including initial age, mean age, percentage female, and percentage African-American. Significant differences were observed between pre- and post-protocol groups in mean BG recorded over a 48-h period (P < 0.0001), percentage not at target within 48 h (P < 0.0001), mean hours to first BG between 80 to 120 mg/dL (P < 0.0001), mean hours to target (three consecutive BGs 80-120 mg/dL) (P < 0.0001), and hyperglycemic index (P < 0.0001). The incidence of hypoglycemia (percentage BG < 70 mg/dL) was not significantly increased in the post-protocol groups (P = 0.2581). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the IVIIC is a safe nurse-driven protocol with excellent BG outcomes.