Fellow Physician University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Background: The Sedation team plays a vital role in providing sedation for minor procedures outside the operating room, relieving the anesthesia service and operating rooms for more complex cases. In line with our commitment to efficient and patient-centered care, this quality improvement initiative aimed to significantly increase the utilization of the sedation service for procedural sedation beyond the Hematology Oncology and Radiology departments. Objective: This project's objective was to achieve a 20% rise in non-radiology, non-Hematology Oncology sedation cases over a two-year span from July 2021 to July 2023. Monthly counts of non-target department sedation cases formed the primary outcomes measure. Process measures included the percentage increase in the target group's sedation numbers and the count of additional procedure categories the sedation service would encompass. Design/Methods: A quality improvement driver diagram was developed to identify key drivers in the underutilization of the sedation service and potential interventions to increase cases. A run chart was developed to track utilization and the impact of interventions. Two interventions were identified from our driver diagram and implemented by our sedation service. Results: The attained results demonstrated a steady progression in the utilization of the sedation service for non-Hematology Oncology, non-radiology cases. Over the study period, the sedation cases showed consistent growth, with a notable upswing from Jul-21 (28 cases) to Jun-23 (74 cases). The objectives of the project were surpassed, with a cumulative increase of 164% in the number of cases by the end of the project period.
Conclusion(s): This quality improvement project underscored the potential for optimizing sedation services outside specialized departments. The tangible outcomes support the notion that targeted initiatives and process enhancements can significantly elevate the utilization of such services, ultimately contributing to improved patient care and resource allocation. The success of this endeavor highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring, adaptation, and collaborative efforts in ensuring the sustained advancement of healthcare delivery.
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