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Background: The demand for healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was excessive for less-resourced settings, with intensive care units (ICUs) taking the heaviest toll., Objective: The aim was to achieve adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) use in 90% of patient encounters, to reach 90% compliance with objectives of patient flow (OPF) and to provide emotional support tools to 90% of healthcare workers (HCWs)., Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental study with an interrupted time-series design in 14 ICUs in Argentina. We randomly selected adult critically ill patients admitted from July 2020 to July 2021 and active HCWs in the same period. We implemented a quality improvement collaborative (QIC) with a baseline phase (BP) and an intervention phase (IP). The QIC included learning sessions, periods of action and improvement cycles (plan-do-study-act) virtually coached by experts via platform web-based activities. The main study outcomes encompassed the following elements: proper utilisation of PPE, compliance with nine specific OPF using daily goal sheets through direct observations and utilisation of a web-based tool for tracking emotional well-being among HCWs., Results: We collected 7341 observations of PPE use (977 in BP and 6364 in IP) with an improvement in adequate use from 58.4% to 71.9% (RR 1.2, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.29, p<0.001). We observed 7428 patient encounters to evaluate compliance with 9 OPF (879 in BP and 6549 in IP) with an improvement in compliance from 53.9% to 67% (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.32, p<0.001). The results showed that HCWs did not use the support tool for self-mental health evaluation as much as expected., Conclusion: A QIC was effective in improving healthcare processes and adequate PPE use, even in the context of a pandemic, indicating the possibility of expanding QIC networks nationwide to improve overall healthcare delivery. The limited reception of emotional support tools requires further analyses., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Heart failure (HF) is a major clinical and public health problem associated with significant mortality, morbidity, and health-care costs. Despite the existence of evidence-based guidelines for the optimal treatment of HF, the quality of care remains suboptimal. Our aim was to increase the use a care bundle in 50% of enrolled subjects during their hospitalization and discharge and to reduce their readmission for HF causes by 10%. We conducted an uncontrolled before-after study in eight hospitals in Argentina to evaluate the effect of a quality improvement intervention on the use of an HF care bundle in patients with HF New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II-III. The HF bundle of care included medication, continuum of care, lifestyle habits, and predischarge examinations. Training and follow-up of multidisciplinary teams in each center were performed through learning sessions and plan-do-study-act improvement cycles. Data collectors reviewed bundle compliance in the health records of recruited patients after their hospital discharge and verified readmissions through phone calls to patients within 30-40 days after discharge. We recruited 200 patients (83 before and 127 during the intervention phase), and bundle compliance increased from 9.6% to 28.3% [odds ratio 3.71, 95% confidence interval (8.46; 1.63); P = .002]. Despite a slow improvement during the first months, bundle compliance gained momentum near the end of the intervention surpassing 80%. We observed a non-significant decreased readmission rate within 30 days of discharge due to HF in the postintervention period [8.4% vs. 5.5%, odds ratio 0.63, 95% CI (1.88; 0.21); P = .410]. Qualitative analysis showed that members of the intervention teams acknowledged the improvement of work organization and standardization of care, teamwork, shared mental model, and health record completeness as well as the utility of training fellows. Despite the challenges related to the pandemic, better care of patients with HF NYHA Class II-III was possible through simple interventions and collaborative work. Graphical abstract., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of International Society for Quality in Health Care. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: There are only a few studies on handoff quality and adverse events (AEs) rigorously evaluating handoff improvement programmes' effectiveness. None of them have been conducted in low and middle-income countries. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a handoff programme implementation in reducing AE frequency in paediatric intensive care units (PICUs)., Methods: Facility-based, cluster-randomised, stepped-wedge trial in six Argentine PICUs in five hospitals, with >20 admissions per month. The study was conducted from July 2018 to May 2019, and all units at least were involved for 3 months in the control period and 4 months in the intervention period. The intervention comprised a Spanish version of the I-PASS handoff bundle consisting of a written and verbal handoff using mnemonics, an introductory workshop with teamwork training, an advertising campaign, simulation exercises, observation and standardised feedback of handoffs. Medical records (MR) were reviewed using trigger tool methodology to identify AEs (primary outcome). Handoff compliance and duration were evaluated by direct observation., Results: We reviewed 1465 MRs: 767 in the control period and 698 in the intervention period. We did not observe differences in the rates of preventable AE per 1000 days of hospitalisation (control 60.4 (37.5-97.4) vs intervention 60.4 (33.2-109.9), p=0.99, risk ratio: 1.0 (0.74-1.34)), and no changes in the categories or AE types. We evaluated 841 handoffs: 396 in the control period and 445 in the intervention period. Compliance with all items in the verbal and written handoffs was significantly higher in the intervention group. We observed no difference in the handoff time in both periods (control 35.7 min (29.6-41.8) vs intervention 34.7 min (26.5-42.1); difference 1.43 min (95% CI -2.63 to 5.49, p=0.49)). The providers' perception of improved communication did not change., Conclusions: After the implementation of the I-PASS bundle, compliance with handoff items improved. Nevertheless, no differences were observed in the AEs' frequency or the perception of enhanced communication., Trial Registration Number: NCT03924570., Competing Interests: Competing interests: FJB, LML, MP, GR, NDM, RBP and ISA report grants from the Ministry of Health of the Nation, through the Directorate of Research for Health, Argentine, during the conduct of the study., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Introduction: Failures in communication are common during patient handoffs between physicians, which predisposes to errors. Few articles have been published on this topic in Argentina. For this reason, our objective was to confirm whether using a structured handoff (I-PASS), which has been successfully used in the USA by Doctor Starmer, may reduce the omission of key data without prolonging its duration at our department., Poulation and Methods: The study was conducted at a private facility in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires between June 15th, 2017 and March 31st, 2018. It had a quasi-experimental, uncontrolled, before-and-after design. Pre- and post-intervention handoffs were assessed. The intervention included training physicians on how to use a structured handoff mnemonic (I-PASS: illness severity, patient summary, action list, situation awareness and contingency planning, synthesis by receiver), training on team work, written computerized handoff document, feedback observations, and simulation., Results: A total of 158 and 124 pre- and postintervention assessments were done respectively. The pre- and post-intervention comparison showed a significant improvement in most of the handoff key points. The time used for the handoff was 199 seconds (174-225) before the intervention and 210 seconds (190-230) after the intervention, p = 0.523; interruptions also decreased significantly., Conclusion: Introducing the I-PASS program reduced key data omission without prolonging handoffs. Interruptions were also reduced., Competing Interests: None, (Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría.)

Introduction: Children in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) are exposed to experiencing pain, stress and anxiety due to their disease, treatment or care setting. Adequate sedation and analgesia are key to their care, particularly in patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV)., Objective: To determine the usual practice in sedation and analgesia management in patients requiring MV in PICUs in Argentina., Material and Methods: Descriptive, crosssectional, multi-center study conducted by means of e-mailed surveys., Results: A total of 45 PICUs were surveyed, 18% (N= 8) of which follow a sedation and analgesia protocol strictly, while 58% (N= 26) follow an "implied" protocol based on routine practice. The most commonly used drugs were midazolam, for sedation, and fentanyl, for analgesia. In 31% (N= 14) of the PICUs, sedation was monitored through assessment scales (modified Ramsay and/or Comfort scales). In 4% (N= 2) of units, daily, scheduled interruptions of sedation was implemented. In patients who are difficult to sedate, dexmedetomidine was the most commonly used adjuvant. In 73% (N= 33) of the units, neuromuscular blocking agents were used in compliance with precise guidelines and under clinical monitoring. In 20% (N= 9) of the PICUs there was a sedation and analgesia weaning protocol in place, and morphine and lorazepam are the most commonly used drugs., Conclusion: Only a low percentage of surveyed PICUs had a protocol in place for the routine management of sedation and analgesia in patients on MV., (Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría.)

Brain death (BD) is a condition determined by the complete and irreversible absence of brain functions. Maintenance of vital functions creates an opportunity for organ donation. A retrospective study was carried out in 7 pediatric intensive care units of Argentina (from 1/1/2013 to 9/30/2016) to determine the incidence of clinical and certified BD, and the proportion of effective transplantations. Among deceased patients, 19.14% (147/768) met the clinical requirements for BD, and the main cause of BD was multiple trauma. BD was certified in 13.4% of deceased patients (103); an electroencephalogram and an apnea test were the most commonly used ancillary methods. Organ maintenance time was 24 hours. A total of 87 families were approached for donation; 59 were rejected (they were not suitable or refused). Effective donors accounted for 25% (26/103) of patients with certified BD and 72 patients received solid organs., (Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría.)

Introduction: communication errors between medical personnel are known to be a leading source of adverse events (AEs). The implementation of teamwork training together with the use of a standardized handoff bundle has previously shown to reduce the number of AEs. However, the applicability of this program in spanish-speaker countries remains unclear. Objective: to assess whether the exploratory implementation of I-PASS bundle in an Argentine pediatric hospital is associated with a reduction in the rate of AEs. Methods: Design: an exploratory, uncontrolled, pre-post study. Population and sample: medical records (MR), medical prescriptions, and physician reports were reviewed in two clinical wards of the "Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde". Intervention: I-PASS Spanish version, an standardized handoff bundle consists in: a mnemonics, an introductory workshop, a written handoff tool, simulation sessions, and structured observations with feedback. Results: we reviewed 264 MR. Preventable AEs decreased by 62.8% between pre-intervention and post-intervention period (12.1 vs 4.5 AEs/100 admissions; IC95: 0.010; 0.142; [p = 0.025]). Adherence to the use of quality handoff key elements increased significantly, from 25% to 61% in post-intervention period (p = 0.0001). Handoff duration did not change significantly (5.5 ± 0.2 vs 5.3 ± 0.3 minutes per patient [p = 0.59]). Conclusion: Implementation of an I-PASS Spanish version was associated with a significant reduction in the rate of AEs and with improvements in handoff quality; without changes in duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]