Principles of continuous quality improvement applied to intravenous therapy

Documentation of the application of the principles of continuous quality improvement (CQI) to the health care setting is crucial for understanding the transition from traditional management models to CQI models. A CQI project was designed and implemented by the IV Therapy Department at Lawrence Memorial Hospital to test the application of these principles to intravenous therapy and as a learning tool for the entire organization. Through a prototype inventory project, significant savings in cost and time were demonstrated using check sheets, flow diagrams, control charts, and other statistical tools, as well as using the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle. As a result, a primary goal, increased time for direct patient care, was achieved. Eight hours per week in nursing time was saved, relationships between two work areas were improved, and $6,000 in personnel costs, storage space, and inventory were saved.