Quality Improvement Initiative to Improve Postoperative Pain with a Clinical Pathway and Nursing Education Program.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We created a multicomponent intervention to improve pain management in the immediate postoperative period with the goal of improving the quality of patient recovery. DESIGN: A multicomponent intervention to improve pain management in the immediate postoperative period with the goal of improving the quality of patient recovery. SETTINGS: Pain management education of postanesthesia recovery room nurses through a practical intervention has the potential to improve patient pain experience, especially in those with a history of opioid tolerance. PARTICIPANTS/SUBJECTS: Postanesthesia recovery nurses/postanesthesia patients. METHODS: The intervention included two components: a clinical pain pathway on multimodal analgesia for both opioid-naïve and opioid-tolerant patients undergoing surgery and an educational program on pain management for frontline clinical nurses in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). We measured the intervention's impact on time to pain relief, PACU length of stay, and patient satisfaction with pain management, as measured by self-report. RESULTS: Patient PACU surveys indicated a decrease in the percent of patients with opioid tolerance who required more than 60 minutes to achieve adequate pain relief (from 32.7% preintervention to 21.3% postintervention). Additionally, after the intervention, the average time from a patient's PACU arrival to his or her discharge criteria being met decreased by 53 minutes and PACU stay prolongation as a result of uncontrolled pain for opioid-tolerant patients decreased from 45.2% to 25.7%. The sample size was underpowered to perform statistical analysis of this improvement. CONCLUSIONS: After the combined intervention of a clinical pain pathway and interactive teaching workshop, we noted shortened PACU length of stay, reduced time to reach pain control, and improved overall patient satisfaction. Although we could not determine statistical significance, our findings suggest improved management of acute postoperative pain, especially for patients who are opioid tolerant. Because of the paucity of data, we were not able to conduct the analysis needed to evaluate quality improvement projects, as per SQUIRE 2.0. could be adopted by any institution.

Length of stay in rehabilitation is associated with admission neurologic deficit and discharge destination.

OBJECTIVE: This study explores the link between neurologic deficit as measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and its relationship to length of stay (LOS) and discharge destination. DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was completed of 54 patients admitted for rehabilitation after experiencing a cerebrovascular accident. SETTING: The study was completed in an acute inpatient rehabilitation stroke unit in a large urban tertiary care medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Patients were included in this analysis if their record contained an NIHSS score on both admission and discharge, if they had neuroimaging documentation of an acute hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke, and if they were not transferred away from the rehabilitation unit during their stay. Of 54 cases reviewed, 47 were ultimately included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Independent variables included were NIHSS admission and discharge scores, change in score from admission to discharge, discharge destination, age, gender, type of stroke, and use of tissue plasminogen activator. These were examined against the dependent variable, LOS. RESULTS: Greater admission NIHSS scores predicted longer hospital stays. Mean admission and discharge scores were significantly greater for patients discharged to subacute facilities, and LOS was also longer for these patients compared with those discharged to the community. Surprisingly, age was inversely related to LOS, admission score, and discharge score. CONCLUSION: Stroke remains one of the most common reasons for admission to acute care hospitals. The authors know of no studies that have examined the rehabilitation aspect of care incorporating the NIHSS in this manner. This study draws a connection between neurologic impairment by using the NIHSS and LOS and discharge destination in an acute inpatient rehabilitation stroke unit. In the future, multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams may consider using this measure to predict LOS and disposition at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.