Successful Implementation of Perfusion Quality InitiativesDefining Quality Initiatives for Perfusion Service Departments

Home » Events » Best Practice 2006

Session Objective: Describe both theory and processes involved to successfully create change, and share real-life examples of success in changing practices.

Objective: Through specific examples, define the motivation for and the technical steps to a successful perfusion service department quality improvement project.

Departmental quality improvement projects (QIP) are a prerequisite activity for a quality and safety-orient perfusion service department. The motivation and the technical steps for a perfusion department to undertake quality improvement projects are presented through examples.

Principles of Six Sigma continuous process improvement are easily applied to the structures, processes and outcomes for perfusion service departments. QIPs are a strategy for implementing change. Clinical procedure guidelines (CPG) are improved through service department QIPs.

Writing a CPG and installing the GPG may serve as a QIP. Perfusion patient care plans and algorithms are important components to CPGs. Adding an algorithm to update a CPG is a QIP in itself, especially when quality indicators are prospectively measured before and after the CPG algorithm training and installation.

References

Eagle CJ, Davies JM, McCloskey B. An introduction to quality assurance with an application for perfusionists. J Extra Corpor Technol. 1991;23:22-25.

Ferries LH. Standards of Care in Perfusion: Should not continuous in-line blood gas monitoring be one?. J Extra Corpor Technol. 1992;24:45-48.

Gold JP, Charlson ME, Williams-Russo P, Szatrowski TP, et al. Improvement of outcomes after coronary artery bypass. A randomized trial comparing intraoperative high versus low mean arterial pressure. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1995;110(5):1302-11; discussion 1311-4.

Holcomb HB, Stammers AH, Gao C, Nutter B, et al. Perfusion treatment algorithm: Methods of improving the quality of perfusion. J Extra Corpor Technol. 2003;35(4):290-6.

Riley JB, Justison GA, Povrzenic D, Zabetakis PA. Designing an integrated extracorporeal therapy service quality system. Ther Apher. 2002;6(4):282-7.

Riley JB, Kavanaugh TA. Perfusion services national process improvement benchmarking. J Extra Corpor Technol. 1998;30(1):25-9.

Trowbridge CC, Stammers AH, Wood GC, Murdock JD, et al. Improved outcomes during cardiac surgery: a multifactorial enhancement of cardiopulmonary bypass techniques. J Extra Corpor Technol. 2005;37(2):165-72.

Winn BA, Hurdle MB, Riley JB, Riley KP. A quality assurance program for perfusion. J Extra Corpor Technol. 1986;18:138-139.