Designing a conscious sedation program. A collaborative approach

St. Elizabeth's Medical Center identified a need to change its guidelines for the administration of IVCS. A task force consisting of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and administrators was formed for this purpose. Goals for the guidelines were identified utilizing resources provided from the Board of Registration in Nursing and the Board of Registration in Medicine, as well as other professional organizations and local hospitals. A consensus was reached and a document generated that received approval by the Medical Center. Implementation went smoothly because of widespread support for the goals of the policy. Quality improvement studies have been performed and the results have been used to change practice. The process is currently ongoing.