Drs. Jason Child and Sarah Parker, Certificate Training Program graduates, published the outcomes of their QI project showing a 10.9% reduction in antimicrobial use over a 4-year period. Their ‘handshake stewardship’ program resulted in a greater than 20% reduction in broad spectrum antibiotic usage such as vancomycin and meropenem.
IHQSE faculty members Drs. Read Pierce, Darlene Tad-y and Patrick Kneeland publish their experience with redeveloping the M&M model to focus on systems-based quality improvement.
IHQSE faulty members Drs. Ethan Cumbler and Patrick Kneeland report on the key factors motivating participation in inter-professional QI teams. High-functioning teams, a focus on patient-centered outcomes and a drive for professional growth were all predictive of participation and should inform the development of future QI project teams.
Certificate Training Program graduates, Drs. James Borgstede and Kristen Nordenholz published the results of their project on ED efficiency. Utilizing the robust process improvement techniques and leadership skills developed in CTP the team was able to reduce time-to-CT scan in Emergency Department patients lowering overall ED LOS by 11 minutes. This change netted an annual estimated $450,000 in savings and $1,540,000 in revenue from new patients.
Founding IHQSE faculty members, Drs. Ethan Cumbler and Jeff Glasheen, detailed their process of looking to positive outliers (deviants) for answers to QI’s most nettlesome problems. By learning from top performing centers in the country the team was able to reduce the time-to-thrombolytics from 71 minutes to 43 minutes in patients with acute stroke.
When it comes to improving hand hygiene Dr. Ethan Cumbler, IHQSE faculty member, turned to core principles of psychology to drive hand hygiene compliance from 78% to 97%.