Using Simulation and Competency Assessment to Decrease Inappropriate Referrals to a Comprehensive Vascular Access Team

J Healthc Qual. 2020 Jan/Feb;42(1):55-61. doi: 10.1097/JHQ.0000000000000222.

Abstract

This department column highlights translation of research into health care quality practice. Achieving the highest quality of health care requires attention to creating and sustaining process efficiencies through the development of bedside provider competencies that result in workflow improvements and positive patient outcomes. An improvement intervention aimed at decreasing unnecessary referrals to a comprehensive vascular access team (CVAT) resulted in a 21% reduction in inappropriate consults to the team in approximately 6 weeks. The purpose of this article is to describe a simulation and competency assessment intervention aimed at increasing staff nurse proficiency in the emergency department for placing ultrasound-guided intravascular catheters, thereby reducing the number of inappropriate referrals to a CVAT team.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Clinical Competence
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / standards*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Personnel / education*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Simulation
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Quality of Health Care / standards*
  • Quality of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Referral and Consultation / standards*
  • Referral and Consultation / statistics & numerical data
  • Staff Development / methods*
  • United States
  • Unnecessary Procedures / standards*
  • Unnecessary Procedures / statistics & numerical data
  • Vascular Access Devices / standards*
  • Vascular Access Devices / statistics & numerical data