Quality improvement during the COVID-19 pandemic

Area of Science:

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

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems globally.
• Cleveland Clinic's quality improvement teams recognized the need for rapid adaptation in patient care and caregiver protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the quality improvement initiatives implemented by Cleveland Clinic in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To detail strategies for guiding patient care and protecting healthcare providers during the public health crisis.

Main Methods:

• Increased frequency of team meetings (daily/weekly) and established specialized task forces.
• Developed protocols for critical areas: patient transport, airway management, personal protective equipment (PPE), and medication management.
• Implemented enterprise-wide changes: postponed non-essential surgeries, established overflow intensive care units (ICUs), and created a digital COVID-19 toolkit.

Main Results:

• Established robust protocols for patient care and resource management.
• Enhanced communication through daily emails disseminating critical updates and recommendations.
• Facilitated a coordinated institutional response to the pandemic.

Conclusions:

• The rapid implementation of quality improvement measures was crucial for navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Proactive protocol development and enhanced communication were key to ensuring patient safety and protecting healthcare workers.