Quality Improvement (QI) Plan: Plan-Do-Study-Act
Explanation of the Quality Improvement Plan for Evidence-Based Practice
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Explanation of the Quality Improvement Plan for Evidence-Based Practice
Introduction
CAUTI in nursing homes has been chosen as the best practice. This is a problem when the bacteria infect the urinary tract system and cause an infection. According to statistics, the number of CAUTI infections is increasing, making it necessary to develop evidence-based quality improvement plans for medical practices. According to statistics, the United States diagnoses 449,334 CAUTI cases per year (Wanat et al., 2020). From the total number of annual infections, 17 to 69 percent of the infections can be avoided. CAUTI infections are responsible for 380,000 preventable infections and 9000 preventable deaths in the United States (Letica-Kriegel et al., 2019). When it comes to addressing the health crisis, the data indicates that evidence-based practices are required. For the purposes of this paper, evidence-based practice quality improvement plans for CAUTI in nursing homes will be examined.
Explanation of the Evidence-Based Practice Plan
The goal of the evidence-based practice plan is to improve the overall quality of care while also preventing infections. One of the strategies proposed by Wanat et al. (2020) is to avoid the use of catheters when it is not necessary. Patients should be observed by healthcare professionals to determine if they require a catheter. In some cases of high-risk patients, the use of a catheter is not recommended if it increases the risk of infection, particularly in females or patients with comorbid conditions. Using bladder scanners, as recommended by Wanat et al. (2020), is another alternative approach. The condition of the urinary tract will be examined during the scanning procedure. It can be effective in ensuring that action is taken before a condition worsens. Wanat and colleagues (2020) advocate for the use of computerized documentation of CAUTI infections on a national scale to improve the overall quality of care. The quality of response will improve as a result of the nationwide data. Obtaining data will Help practitioners in identifying potential causes and determining the most appropriate interventions to use.
According to Letica-Kriegel et al. (2019), due to an increase in the number of preventable deaths among CAUTI patients, it is critical to exercise extra caution when dealing with females in CAUTI patients. Females are more susceptible to CAUTI, according to research, when compared to males. Patients who have comorbid conditions as well as mobility issues are more likely to have negative outcomes. According to Wanat et al. (2020), it is recommended that additional measures be investigated in order to prevent urinary tract infections. It will be prudent to investigate alternative methods of avoiding catheterization, which would put a patient at risk for preventable adverse outcomes or death if catheterization is performed. In order to protect the health of patients, it is critical for nurses to investigate alternative measures. Patients who have other infections or chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, may experience negative outcomes if they develop urinary infections.
Advani and Fakih (2019) recognize that late detection of the bacterium that is causing infection in the urinary tract is a significant cause of preventable illness in the United States. The late detection is due to a lack of accurate methods for detecting the bacterium in question. It has been proposed by Advani and Fakih (2019) that electronic mechanisms be used to detect bacteria. Reduced infection rates are essential for lowering the overall rate of infection, the number of deaths, and the amount of money spent.
Mangal and colleagues (2021) have made an excellent recommendation, which is the use of health education materials in the classroom. Education is one of the mechanisms through which health promotion exercises are carried out. Educating patients about the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections, as well as about prevention measures and symptoms, can help to reduce the likelihood of negative outcomes. The authors of Mangal et al. (2021) believe that it is critical to educate healthcare workers about the precautions to take when dealing with various patients. Healthcare workers should make every effort to provide evidence-based information to their colleagues in order to ensure that all patients are treated effectively in all situations.
Resources
bladder scanners, electronic bacteria diagnostic tools, and health education materials are some of the resources that will be required to put the changes into action. A healthcare institution should make available staff members who are interested in learning about the latest strategies for treating urinary tract infections. The facility will be responsible for purchasing the materials and compensating the individual who will train the staff on how to embrace evidence-based practices in the workplace.
Bladder scanners are effective in examining the state of the urinary tract in order to determine the severity of the condition and the need for catheterization or other alternative interventions to be performed. It is necessary to have electronic bacteria diagnostic tools in order to improve local stewardship and prevention of urinary tract infections. According to Letica-Kriegel et al. (2019), the use of an electronic tool will improve the accuracy of diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. Health education tools are effective in informing both patients and their families about their health. Patients and their families will benefit from education, which will lower the risk of infection and increase the likelihood of early diagnosis. The use of electronic tools, according to Advani and Fakih (2019), reduces the likelihood of medical errors that can affect the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections. Healthcare workers should participate in training to ensure that they have the necessary knowledge to pass on to patients and family members.
Conclusion
According to statistics, the number of CAUTI infections is increasing, making it necessary to develop evidence-based quality improvement plans for medical practices. A large proportion of CAUTI infections and deaths can be avoided if appropriate measures are taken. The goal of the evidence-based practice plan is to improve the overall quality of care while also preventing infections. Scholars suggest evidence-based research strategies to counter the rates of infections and deaths. It is important to explore other methods to prevent catheterization. One of the important resources is to educate patients and family members about the risks, causes, and prevention measures. Education materials should comprise evidence-practice measures to lower the risk of infection and the rate of deaths.
References
Advani, S. D., & Fakih, M. G. (2019). The evolution of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI): is it time for more inclusive metrics? . Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 40(6), 681-685.
Hollenbeak, C. S., & Schilling, A. L. (2018). The attributable cost of catheter-associated urinary tract infections in the United States: A systematic review. American journal of infection control, 46(7), 751-757.
Letica-Kriegel, A. S., Salmasian, H., Vawdrey, D. K., Youngerman, B. E., Green, R. A., Furuya, E. Y., … & Perotte, R. (2019). Identifying the risk factors for catheter-associated urinary tract infections: a large cross-sectional study of six hospitals. BMJ Open, 9(2), e022137.
Mangal, S., Carter, E., & Arcia, A. (2021). Developing an educational resource for parents on pediatric catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) prevention. American Journal of Infection Control. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2021.09.006
Wanat, M., Borek, A. J., Atkins, L., Sallis, A., Ashiru-Oredope, D., Beech, E., … & Tonkin-Crine, S. (2020). Optimising interventions for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (Cauti) in primary, secondary and care home settings. Antibiotics, 9(7), 419.
