Paediatric respiratory isolation: A challenge for a secondary care hospital! A service innovation project

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Infectious Disease Control
• Quality Improvement in Medicine

Background:

• Secondary care hospitals often face challenges in managing infectious diseases like measles.
• Expanding services requires robust protocols to ensure patient safety and prevent cross-transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the scope of services at a secondary care hospital for measles patients.
• To implement safe, effective, and high-quality care protocols for measles management.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Six Sigma DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) methodology.
• Employed a Gantt chart for project management, initiated in October 2015.

Main Results:

• Established dedicated isolation rooms and a specific care policy for airborne infections.
• Reduced measles patient referrals by 93.6% (from an estimated baseline to 4 out of 62 cases).
• Increased patient satisfaction levels from 60% to 80% within six months post-implementation.

Conclusions:

• Clinical service innovation successfully reduced measles patient referrals to other facilities.
• Improved patient care and satisfaction through enhanced hospital services for infectious diseases.