Tackling Quality Improvement in the Delivery Room

Quality improvement initiative: implementing and redefining video review of real-time neonatal procedures using action research

Video review (VR) of procedures in the medical environment can be used to drive quality improvement. However, first it has to be implemented in a safe and effective way. Our primary objective was to (re)define a guideline for implementing interprofessional VR in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Our secondary objective was to determine the rate of acceptance by providers attending VR. For 9 months, VR sessions were evaluated with a study group, consisting of different stakeholders. A questionnaire was embedded at the end of each session to obtain feedback from providers on the session and on the safe learning environment. In consensus meetings, success factors and preconditions were identified and divided into different factors that influenced the rate of adoption of VR. The number of providers who recorded procedures and attended VR sessions was determined. A total of 18 VR sessions could be organised, with an equal distribution of medical and nursing staff. After the 9-month period, 101/125 (81%) of all providers working on the NICU attended at least 1 session and 80/125 (64%) of all providers recorded their performance of a procedure at least 1 time. In total, 179/297 (61%) providers completed the questionnaire. Almost all providers (99%) reported to have a positive opinion about the review sessions. Preconditions and success factors related to implementation were identified and addressed, including improving the pathway for obtaining consent, preparation of VR, defining the role of the chair during the session and building a safe learning environment. Different strategies were developed to ensure findings from sessions were used for quality improvement. VR was successfully implemented on our NICU and we redefined our guideline with various preconditions and success factors. The adjusted guideline can be helpful for implementation of VR in emergency care settings.

Equipment preparedness for neonatal resuscitation in neonatal intensive care unit in resource limited setting: cross-sectional study

Background

Adverse healthcare's events are a critical issue worldwide, neonatal intensive care unit adverse events are a considerable issue. It is important that we recognize the basic equipment needed to address these circumstances. The aim of this study is to asses' equipment preparedness for neonatal resuscitation in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Method

A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted on 210 neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit at comprehensive specialized hospital from 26/03/2022 to 26/05/2022. The data were collected using Checklist prepared from Neonatal resuscitation: current evidence and guidelines. The data obtained were summed up and presented as descriptive statistics using the Microsoft Excel and were analyzed using SPSS version 25. The result reported in text and table form.

Result

In this study there was 12.72% complete equipment preparation (without defect) in 210 cases. From the total, there was minor defect in 52.8% cases, and 34.45% cases had serious defect. Serious defects were more frequently detected in the equipment preparation (42.46%), resuscitation medications (12.5%), and radiant warmer set-up (40%).

Conclusion and recommendation

Overall equipment preparation for neonatal resuscitation was insufficient, and quality of equipment preparation for neonatal resuscitation and stabilization needs to be improved. To enhance equipment preparedness in the neonatal intensive care unit staff should establish uniform guidelines.

Using Simulation-Based Training to Improve Neonatal Resuscitation Clinical Competency, Confidence, and Comfort Level of NICU Caregivers

BACKGROUND

Approximately 10% of newborns require resuscitation at delivery or during a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay. Neonatal intensive care unit caregivers competent in providing neonatal resuscitation decrease perinatal mortality and improve neonatal outcomes. Infrequency of resuscitation events, lack of repetition, and inexperience leave caregivers feeling un-prepared for emergency situations. There is a need for educational strategies to maintain competency and increase confidence and comfort level.

METHOD

This quality improvement project used a pre-post survey design. Competency was assessed during simulated mock codes using the Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument. Self-perceived confidence and comfort level were assessed using a pre-post survey.

RESULTS

Descriptive statistics indicated that the average score on the Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument fell below the targeted minimally competent goal of 80%. Practical significance was noted between the pre-intervention and post-intervention means of both perceived confidence and comfort level.

CONCLUSION

Simulation-based education may increase the competency, confidence, and comfort level of NICU caregivers and should be conducted routinely. Similar projects could be replicated at other institutions to address continuing competency with neonatal resuscitation. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(4):175-180.].

Quality improvement efforts directed at optimal umbilical cord management in delivery room

Delayed or deferred cord clamping (DCC) and umbilical cord milking (UCM) benefit all infants by optimizing fetal-neonatal transition and placental transfusion. Even though DCC is recommended by almost all maternal and neonatal organizations, it has not been universally implemented. There is considerable variation in umbilical cord management practices across institutions. In this article, we provide examples of successful quality improvement (QI) initiatives to implement optimal cord management in the delivery room. We discuss a number of key elements that should be considering among those undertaking QI efforts to implement DCC and UCM including, multidisciplinary team collaboration, development of theory for change, mapping of the current and ideal process and workflow for cord management, and creation of a unit-specific evidence-based protocol for cord management. We also examine important strategies for implementation and provide suggestions for developing a system for measurement and benchmarking.

Improving quality of intrapartum and immediate postpartum care in public facilities: experiences and lessons learned from Rajasthan state, India

Background

In spite of considerable improvement in maternal and neonatal outcomes over the past decade in India, the current maternal mortality ratio and neonatal mortality rate are far from the Sustainable Development Goal targets due to suboptimal quality of maternity care. A package of interventions for improving quality of intrapartum and immediate postpartum care was co-designed with the Ministry of Health as the Dakshata program and implemented in public sector health facilities in selected districts in the state of Rajasthan of India since June 2015. This article describes the key strategies, interventions, results and challenges from four years of Dakshata program implementation.

Methods

We have conducted secondary analysis of program data (government data) collected from 202 public facilities across 20 districts of Rajasthan state. The data collected between June–August 2015 (baseline) and the data collected between May-August 2019 (latest) were analyzed. The data sources included: facility assessments, service statistics, monthly progress reports.

Results

During the period of program implementation, there were 17,94,249 deliveries accounting for 70% of institutional deliveries in intervention districts. As a result of the intervention, there was a notable increase in competency of health care providers, availability of essential resources, achievement of labour room standards and adherence to evidence-based clinical standards. We also observed reductions in the proportion of referrals for pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage and neonatal asphyxia by 11, 8 and 3 percentage points respectively. Similarly, data revealed a reduction in stillbirth rates in Dakshata intervention facilities (19.3 vs 15.3) compared to non-Dakshata facilities (21.8 vs 18).

Conclusions

Our experience and findings indicate that the quality of intrapartum and immediate postpartum care can be improved in low- and middle-income countries with the approach presented in this paper.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-022-04888-5.

Real-Time Safety Audits of Neonatal Delivery Room Resuscitation Areas: Are We Sufficiently Prepared?

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to use real-time safety audits to establish whether preparation of the equipment required for the stabilization and resuscitation of newborns in the delivery room areas is adequate.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a descriptive, multicenter study performed at five-level III-A neonatal units in Madrid, Spain. For 1 year, one researcher from each center performed random real-time safety audits (RRTSAs), on different days and during different shifts, of at least three neonatal stabilization areas, either in the delivery room or in the operating room used for caesarean sections. Three factors in each area were reviewed: the set-up of the radiant warmer, the materials, and medication available. The global audit was considered without defect when no errors were detected in any of the audited factors. Possible differences in the results were analyzed as a function of the study month, day of the week, or shift during which the audit had been performed.

RESULTS

A total of 852 audits were performed. No defects were detected in any of the three factors analyzed in the 534 (62.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 59.3-65.9) cases. Slight defects were detected in 98 (11.5%, 95% CI: 9.4-13.8) cases and serious defects capable of producing adverse events in the newborn during resuscitation were found in 220 (25.8%, 95% CI: 22.9-28.9) cases. No statistically significant differences in the results were found according to the day of the week or time during which the audits were performed. However, the percentage of RRTSAs without defect increased as the study period progressed (first quarter 38.1% vs. the last quarter 84.2%; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The percentage of adequately prepared resuscitation areas was low. RRTSAs made it possible to detect errors in the correct availability of the neonatal stabilization areas and improved their preparation by preventing errors from being perpetuated over time.

KEY POINTS

· RRTSAs are a tool for improving clinical safety.. · The use of RRTSAs in perinatal care is very uncommon.. · RRTSAs improve the preparation of newborn CPR areas..

Optimizing nurses' enacted scope of practice to its full potential as an integrated strategy for the continuous improvement of clinical performance: A multicentre descriptive analysis

AIM

This study aims at better understanding the relationships between nurses' enacted scope of practice, work environment and work satisfaction, missed care, and organizational indicators of performance.

BACKGROUND

The enacted scope of practice model describes the determinants and consequences of the actual enactment of the nursing scope of practice.

METHOD

A correlational design was used to investigate nurses' enacted scope of practice in five Canadian healthcare centres.

RESULTS

Suboptimal enacted scope of practice were found in the current sample. Significant positive correlations were found between the total enacted scope of practice score, use of qualification, control over tasks, decisional latitude and psychological demand as well as role ambiguity. Moreover, a higher enacted scope of practice was correlated with lower organizational indicators of short-term absenteeism.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest an insufficient deployment of nurses' enacted scope of practice, likely caused by some job characteristics, leading to lower work satisfaction and negative patients and organizational outcomes.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Optimizing nurses' enacted scope of practice would be a significant integrated strategy for improving organizational performance, patient care and nurses' satisfaction and well-being. Nurses and frontline managers must be involved in the decision-making process necessary to improve nurses' enacted scope of practice.

Resuscitation outcomes for weekend deliveries of very low birthweight infants

OBJECTIVE

To characterise the association between weekend (Saturday and Sunday) deliveries of very low birthweight (VLBW) infants and delivery room outcomes in the 'golden hour' after birth.

DESIGN AND SETTING

A retrospective cohort study using California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative data from participating neonatal intensive care units.

PATIENTS

The study population after exclusions was 26 515 VLBW infants born in California from 2010 to 2016.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Delivery room outcomes assessed included: chest compressions, epinephrine, intubation prior to continuous positive airway pressure ventilation, 5 min Apgar <4, admission hypothermia and death within 12 hours. To adjust for potential confounders, we fit multivariate regression models controlling for two sets of infant, maternal and hospital characteristics.

RESULTS

Infants delivered on weekends were less likely to have been prenatally diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction but were otherwise not significantly different in gestational age, ethnicity, sex or maternal risk factors than those born during weekdays. Caesarean deliveries were less common on weekends, while vaginal deliveries were consistent across all days. After adjusting for sex and race, weekend delivery was associated with delivery room chest compressions (OR: 1.12, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.24) and lower 5 min Apgar (OR: 1.11, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.21).

CONCLUSION

In this population-based study of VLBW infants, there was an increase in chest compressions for infants born on the weekend. More research is needed on the differences between populations born on weekdays versus weekends, and how these may contribute to observed associations.

Improving the quality of quality metrics in neonatology

This article examines approaches for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of quality metrics currently in use in neonatal care. Desirable characteristics of quality metrics are discussed, the criteria and process for their development are presented, and the uses and limitations of current neonatal outcome and process metrics are explored together with approaches for improving metric performance. Discussion includes enhancing quality metrics through optimizing improvement readiness, sustaining improvements once achieved, and use of improvement science methods to improve metric validity.

Anticipation and preparation for delivery room emergencies

Effective communication is the keystone in the management of delivery room emergencies. A clearly defined framework and "shared mental model" optimize team collaboration and are essential when anticipating and preparing for high-stakes emergent cases. This review defines a framework to build shared mental models using dialogue, pre-briefing, checklists, simulation, debriefing and structured feedback to maintain a cohesive high functioning team. Strategies to approach different emergency lead-times will be discussed, and case examples will be used to illustrate concepts outlined.

Ergonomic Challenges Inherent in Neonatal Resuscitation

Neonatal resuscitation demands that healthcare professionals perform cognitive and technical tasks while working under time pressure as a team in order to provide efficient and effective care. Neonatal resuscitation teams simultaneously process and act upon multiple data streams, perform ergonomically challenging technical procedures, and coordinate their actions within a small physical space. An understanding and application of human factors and ergonomics science broadens the areas of need in resuscitation research, and will lead to enhanced technologies, systems, and work environments that support human limitations and maximize human performance during neonatal resuscitation.

Historical Perspectives: Telemedicine in Neonatology

Telemedicine is fast becoming integrated into health care as a way to increase access for patients, particularly across the urban/rural divide. Use of telemedicine in neonatology is a newer, yet rapidly expanding modality. This review outlines the history of telemedicine, the evolution of its current uses in neonatology, requirements for starting a telemedicine program, and potential future uses.