Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 19, 2026
Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
Reduction of Insulin Related Preventable Severe Hypoglycemic Events in Hospitalized Children
Amy Poppy1, Claudia Retamal-Munoz2, Melanie Cree-Green3
1Quality and Patient Safety, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado; amy.poppy@childrenscolorado.org.
Insights
Implementing multiple interventions significantly reduced preventable hypoglycemia events in pediatric patients receiving insulin. This multi-faceted approach improved inpatient diabetes care safety.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Hospital Patient Safety
- Diabetes Management
Background:
- Insulin is a high-risk medication frequently used in hospitals.
- Improper insulin administration can cause hypoglycemia, a major complication in hospitalized patients with diabetes.
- Preventing hypoglycemia is crucial for improving inpatient diabetes care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reduce preventable insulin-related hypoglycemia events in a tertiary care pediatric hospital.
- To enhance the safety of insulin administration for hospitalized children.
Main Methods:
- Instituted nursing and physician education programs.
- Implemented electronic medical record order sets and communication templates.
- Developed and enforced new care guidelines for insulin use.
Main Results:
- Reduced preventable hypoglycemia events from 1.4 to 0.4 per 100 insulin days.
- Demonstrated a significant decrease in insulin-related adverse events.
Conclusions:
- A multidisciplinary approach, including an insulin safety committee, effectively decreased severe preventable hypoglycemia.
- Sustained improvements in safety for pediatric patients on insulin were achieved.
Objective:
Insulin is a commonly used, high-risk medication in the inpatient setting. Incorrect insulin administration can lead to preventable hypoglycemic events, which are a significant morbidity in inpatient diabetes care. The goal of this intervention was to decrease preventable insulin-related hypoglycemic events in an inpatient setting in a tertiary care pediatric hospital.
Methods:
Methods included the institution of several interventions such as nursing and physician education, electronic medical record order sets, electronic communication note templates, and the development of new care guidelines.
Results:
After the institution of multiple interventions, the rate of preventable hypoglycemic events decreased from 1.4 preventable events per 100 insulin days to 0.4 preventable events per 100 insulin days.
Conclusions:
Through the use of a multi-interventional approach with oversight of a multidisciplinary insulin safety committee, a sustained decreased rate of severe preventable hypoglycemic events in hospitalized pediatric patients receiving insulin was achieved.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Hypoglycemia and Glucagon
01:16Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
01:06Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides
01:23Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
01:14SBAR II: Application of SBAR
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...