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Introduction of an isolation policy in paediatric wards
Joanna Hall1, Sharmela Roopnarine, Jane McLean
1Barts and The London NHS Trust and City University, London.
Insights
Implementing a new isolation policy improved the use of isolation rooms in pediatric wards. Daily reviews and clear criteria ensured better patient care and reduced unnecessary hospital transfers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Hospital Infection Control
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Managing pediatric patients requiring isolation presents daily challenges in clinical settings.
- Current practices lack clear guidelines for discontinuing isolation, leading to reduced bed availability.
- Inefficient isolation room use can result in unnecessary patient transfers to other facilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance the availability of isolation rooms on pediatric wards.
- To optimize the utilization of isolation facilities in a large teaching hospital.
- To reduce patient transfers due to isolation room limitations.
Main Methods:
- Introduction of a new isolation policy based on a change management framework.
- Implementation of strategies for daily patient isolation review.
- Empowerment of nursing staff to challenge isolation admission decisions.
- Auditing the policy's impact on isolation room usage and patient flow.
Main Results:
- Improved staff awareness regarding isolation protocols.
- More effective and efficient use of available isolation rooms.
- Significant reduction in patient transfers to external hospitals.
- Enhanced daily assessment of isolation appropriateness.
Conclusions:
- A structured isolation policy improves resource management in pediatric wards.
- Daily reassessment and clear criteria are crucial for optimizing isolation room availability.
- Effective change management strategies can lead to better patient flow and reduced healthcare costs.
Abstract:
Where and how to care for children with infections, or those requiring protection, is a daily debate in many paediatric settings. The practice of placing patients into single rooms for infection control purposes is well documented but there is little guidance on when to remove patients from isolation rooms. Unless the appropriateness of isolation for each patient is evaluated daily, the availability of cubicles falls, resulting in potentially unnecessary transfers to other hospitals where such facilities are available. A new isolation policy was introduced to improve the availability of isolation rooms on paediatric wards in a large inner city teaching hospital with over 100 paediatric inpatient beds. A change management framework was used that included empowering organisational action and consolidating improvements. A number of strategies were introduced to prompt daily review of children in isolation, including clear criteria for isolation and nursing staff in the emergency department challenging the decision to admit a child into an isolation room. Introduction of the policy and subsequent audits have resulted in improved staff awareness, more effective use of isolation rooms and reduced transfers to other hospitals.
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