Two dedicated groups of KP Santa Rosa nurses went above and beyond their clinical duties to develop and implement quality improvement projects within their departments. These projects were showcased at the 2nd Annual Research and Innovation Academy Conference in May, giving our nurses the chance to share their work with an external audience.
This opportunity highlights not only exceptional professional development for our nursing staff but also their commitment to advancing evidence-based practice and driving improvements in patient quality, safety, and experience.
Our Medical-Surgical team stood out as the only presenters focusing on Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injury (HAPI) reduction in their setting, while our Emergency Department shared impactful work on Purposeful Hourly Rounding and its role in enhancing patient safety and care experience.
Poster Presented:
Under Pressure: Reducing HAPIs by Improving Prevention Measures Through Peer-Led Education
Presenters: Jessica Handley, BSN, RN, CCRN; Bill Vanderlind, BCS, RN
Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) remain a significant challenge in healthcare, contributing to longer hospital stays, higher costs, and poorer patient outcomes.
This project aimed to develop sustainability by refining the use of the RN Self-Assessment Tool, identifying gaps in the implementation and documentation of pressure-relieving measures, and providing targeted re-education as needed. Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) were also included in the training program.
Since the program rollout, there have been 4 HAPIs over 3.5 months—an average of 1.14 injuries per month, reflecting a 25% decrease in patient injury events.
Poster Presented:
Enhancing Patient Safety and Satisfaction: Purposeful Hourly Rounding (PHR) in the Emergency Department
Presenters: Kelli Cox, MSN, RN, Tara Williams, MSN, RN, Cindy White, BSN, PHN, RN
Purposeful Hourly Rounding (PHR) is an evidence-based best practice proven to improve patient safety and satisfaction. The high-acuity, unpredictable, and fast-paced environment of the Emergency Department can make implementing PHR difficult.
The purpose of the project was to implement Purposeful Hourly Rounding in the ED to decrease patient falls and improve patient satisfaction. Following implementation, a significant decrease in fall incidents was observed, with zero falls during the intervention and three weeks post-intervention. Additionally, post-intervention ED surveys showed increased positive feedback about the patient care experience.