Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service II (Projects aiming to enhance clinical safety and outcomes, clinical governance / risk management)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
Staff Engagement and Empowerment (motivating staff / teamwork / work revamp tackling manpower issue / staff wellness / OSH / retention)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Chan WK(1), Zhou MC(1), Lau PW(2), Poon KC(1), Mok YT(1), Ngo OL(1), Lai CK(1), Yu KY(1), Chui CM(2), Ngai CW(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Adult Intensive Care Unit, Queen Mary Hospital (2)Department of Pharmacy, Queen Mary Hospital
Introduction :
Medication safety is of critical importance in the intensive care unit (ICU), where patients are often in a vulnerable state and require complex medication regimens. Errors in medication administration can have severe consequences, leading to adverse events, prolonged hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. Therefore, implementing a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) project focused on medication safety in the ICU is vital to enhance patient outcomes and ensure optimal care. This project aim to reduce medication errors, improve accuracy, and enhance patient safety throughout the entire medication management process. To accomplish this goal, a multidisciplinary team comprising AICU physicians, nurses, pharmacists will collaborate to assess the existing medication workflow, identify areas to improve and implement interventions to achieve a better medication safety culture.
Objectives :
1. Reduce medication errors in the AICU through targeted interventions. 2. Improve medication accuracy by enhancing clinical supervision. 3. Enhance communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals to reduce medication errors. 4. Implement evidence-based practices for medication safety. 5. Monitor and evaluate performance metrics related to medication safety to identify areas for improvement. 6. Explore opportunites to extend medication management and service out of the ICU.
Methodology :
1. CQI Team Formation: A multidisciplinary team is formed to lead the CQI project. 2. Data Collection and Analysis: Relevant data is collected and analyzed to assess medication safety in the AICU. 3. Interventions Development and Implementation: Targeted interventions are developed and implemented to enhance medication safety. These include formulating guidelines, conducting daily medication rounds, reviewing medication ward stock, and setting up communication channels. 4. Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation: Medication error rates and compliance with safety protocols are tracked. 5. Feedback and Communication: Open communication is maintained among the CQI team, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders. 6. Sustaining Improvements: Strategies are developed to sustain the improvements achieved through the CQI project. This includes updating policies, integrating safety practices into training programs, conducting audits, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
Result & Outcome :
1. 50% reduction in medication incidents related to high-risk medications in 2023, compared to 2022. 2. One nurse-led and one doctor-led AICU medication case conference was conducted in 2023. 3. 16 Pharmacist Discharge Note has been made for orthopedic patients under AICU care since the launch of Transitional Pilot Care in June 2022. 4. More than 400 IPMOE Drug Set entries from 34 medication categories are created specifically for AICU. 5. 26% reduction in the top-up list of medication ward stock in Apr 2023 from 80 drugs to 59, including 10 high-risk medications. 6. There has been only one reported case of medication over-replenish since May 2023.
