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The use of strong opioids in medical units is recurrent, mainly for analgesic purposes. The risk of occurrence of an overdose or an opioid use disorders causes very legitimate concerns for the physician, which may limit the use of opioid treatment or the adaptation of the doses necessary to relieve the patient. We provide a summary of the literature aimed at defining the indications, the adverse effects and the risks involved, the prescribing methods in order to reassure professionals and promote the safe use of these molecules., (Copyright © 2024 Société Nationale Française de Médecine Interne (SNFMI). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The Spanish Association of Surgeons (AEC) deems it essential to define and regulate the acquisition of high-specialization competencies within General Surgery and Gastrointestinal Surgery and proposes the Regulation for the accreditation of specialized surgical units. The AEC aims to define specialized surgical units as those functional elements of the health system that meet the defined requirements regarding their provision, solvency, and specialization in care, teaching, and research. In this paper we present the proposed accreditation model for Abdominal Wall Surgery Units, as well as the results of a survey conducted to assess the status of such units in our country. The model presented represents one of the pioneering initiatives worldwide concerning the accreditation of Abdominal Wall Surgery Units., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U.)

Objective: To determine the importance of the supervision of the essential patient safety actions (AESP) in the different Medical Units of the different levels of care in Mexico City., Method: The concern for quality in health care, understood as the safety of patients, is a fundamental aspect that involves the authorities and operational personnel. Supervisions were carried out in the different medical units of Mexico City., Results: Positive correlations were observed between the implementation of the AESP and the number of damages, incidents, events and errors existing in the medical units., Conclusions: The supervision of the AESP program should be aimed at the prevention and management of risks in health care, recognizing the occurrence of adverse events as a reality resulting from a gradual work of a whole process of continuous improvement., (Copyright: © 2024 Permanyer.)

Background: Patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation or chemotherapy for cancer are profoundly immunosuppressed. They are at risk for both endogenous and exogenous infections and require enhanced protection from infection while in hospital., Objectives: The aim of this narrative review was to determine the optimal design features of bone marrow transplant (BMT) units for reducing infection risk in these vulnerable patients., Sources: A literature search was performed on PubMed and other databases for documents published between January 2000 and October 2021. Keywords were: bone marrow transplant unit OR hematopoietic stem cell transplant unit OR haematology unit OR haemato-oncology unit AND design OR design guidelines OR design criteria OR ventilation specification OR HEPA filtration OR water outbreaks OR water system design., Content: Guidelines and other papers pertaining to BMT unit design are discussed. Key design features identified from the literature to reduce infection risks include high efficiency particulate air filtration, positive-pressure ventilation, sufficient air changes and sealed rooms. The evidence for each of these parameters and other findings are discussed. We found no guidelines specific to water quality and control in BMT units., Implications: Guidelines on the various components of design were found, but no comprehensive guidance documents addressing all relevant aspects, such as ventilation, water, and other design features, were found. Literary publications and policy documents were combined and summarised to highlight key design features aimed at reducing infection risk in this vulnerable patient group. We propose the development of international guidance for the design of BMT units encompassing all components., (Crown Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The purpose of this review was to identify quality indicators described in the literature that may be used as quality measures in hospital physical therapy units., Methods: The following sources were searched for quality indicators or articles: Web of Science, MEDLINE, IBECS, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health, Academic Search Complete, SportDiscus, SciELO, PsychINFO, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, and Scopus databases; the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, National Health System Indicator Portal, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development websites; and the National Quality Forum's measures inventory tool. Search terms included "quality indicator," "quality measure," "physiotherapy," and "physical therapy." Inclusion criteria were articles written in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese aimed at measuring the quality of care in hospital physical therapy units. Evidence-based indicators with an explicit formula were extracted by 2 independent reviewers and then classified using the structure-process-outcome model, quality domain, and categories defined by a consensus method., Results: Of the 176 articles identified, only 19 met the criteria. From these articles and from the indicator repository searches, 178 clinical care indicators were included in the qualitative synthesis and presented in this paper. Process and outcome measures were prevalent, and 5 out of the 6 quality domains were represented. No efficiency measures were identified. Moreover, structure indicators, equity and accessibility indicators, and indicators in the cardiovascular and circulatory, mental health, pediatrics, and intensive care categories were underrepresented., Conclusions: A broad selection of quality indicators was identified from international resources, which can be used to measure the quality of physical therapy care in hospital units., Impact: This review identified 178 quality of care indicators that can be used in clinical practice monitoring and quality improvement of hospital physical therapy units. The results highlight a lack of accessibility, equity, and efficiency measures for physical therapy units., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Physical Therapy Association.)

Background: Prolonged times to tracheal extubation are those from end of surgery (dressing on the patient) to extubation 15 minutes or longer. They are so long that others in the operating room (OR) generally have exhausted whatever activities can be done. They cause delays in the starts of surgeons' to-follow cases and are associated with longer duration workdays. Anesthesiologists rate them as being inferior quality. We compare prolonged times to extubation between a teaching hospital in the United States with a phase I postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and a teaching hospital in Japan without a PACU. Our report is especially important during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Anesthesiologists with some patients undergoing general anesthetics and having initial PACU recovery in the ORs where they had surgery can learn from the Japanese anesthesiologists with all patients recovering in ORs., Methods: The historical cohort study included all patients undergoing gynecological surgery at a US hospital (N = 785) or Japanese hospital (N = 699), with the time from OR entrance to end of surgery of at least 4 hours., Results: The mean times from end of surgery to OR exit were slightly longer at the US hospital than at the Japanese hospital (mean difference 1.9 minutes, P < .0001). The mean from end of surgery to discharge to surgical ward at the US hospital also was longer (P < .0001), mean difference 2.2 hours. The sample standard deviations of times from end of surgery until tracheal extubation was 40 minutes for the US hospital versus 4 minutes at the Japanese hospital (P < .0001). Prolonged times to tracheal extubation were 39% of cases at the US hospital versus 6% at the Japanese hospital; relative risk 6.40, 99% confidence interval (CI), 4.28-9.56. Neither patient demographics, case characteristics, surgeon, anesthesiologist, nor anesthesia provider significantly revised the risk ratio. There were 39% of times to extubation that were prolonged among the patients receiving neither remifentanil nor desflurane (all such patients at the US hospital) versus 6% among the patients receiving both remifentanil and desflurane (all at the Japanese hospital). The relative risk 7.12 (99% CI, 4.59-11.05) was similar to that for the hospital groups., Conclusions: Differences in anesthetic practice can facilitate major differences in patient recovery soon after anesthesia, useful when the patient will recover initially in the OR or if the phase I PACU is expected to be unable to admit the patient., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: See Disclosures at the end of the article., (Copyright © 2020 International Anesthesia Research Society.)

Background: One of the most valued targets in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is for physicians to provide and patients to receive a high-level quality of care. This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of a nationwide quality certification programme for IBD units., Methods: Identification of quality indicators (QI) for IBD Unit certification was based on Delphi methodology that selected 53 QI, which were subjected to a normalisation process. Selected QI were then used in the certification process. Coordinated by GETECCU, this process began with a consulting round and an audit drill followed by a formal audit carried out by an independent certifying agency. This audit involved the scrutiny of the selected QI in medical records. If 80%-90% compliance was achieved, the IBD unit audited received the qualification of "advanced", and if it exceeded 90% the rating was "excellence". Afterwards, an anonymous survey was conducted among certified units to assess satisfaction with the programme for IBD units., Results: As of January 2021, 66 IBD units adhere to the nationwide certification programme. Among the 53 units already audited by January 2021, 31 achieved the certification of excellence, 20 the advanced certification, and two did not obtain the certification. The main survey results indicated high satisfaction with an average score of 8.5 out of 10., Conclusion: Certification of inflammatory bowel disease units by GETECCU is the largest nationwide certification programme for IBD units reported. More than 90% of IBD units adhered to the programme achieved the certification., (© 2021 The Authors. United European Gastroenterology Journal published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of United European Gastroenterology.)

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Beaumont Hospital is a nationally designated symptomatic breast cancer unit, independent of the national screening programme, BreastCheck., Aims: We hypothesised that patients attending symptomatic breast cancer units differ from national registry data and aimed to characterise this in a retrospective study., Methods: A prospective database of patients diagnosed with breast cancer was maintained between 2014 and 2017. Multiple patient and tumour demographics were analysed retrospectively and compared with data from the National Cancer Registry., Results: In total, 944 patients were diagnosed with breast cancer, 379 (40%) were aged < 50, 206 (22%) 50-64, 208 (22%) 65-75 and 151 (16%) > 75 years respectively. Expectedly, older patients (≥ 65 years) had a higher proportion of oestrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer (72%). Triple negative breast cancer was relatively more common (17%) among younger patients. These patients received more intensive chemotherapy: 118 (64%) received combination anthracycline-taxane chemotherapy, in comparison with only 14 (21%) of older patients. Patients generally presented at a later stage compared with national registry data: stage II 491 (52%) and stage III 179 (19%) versus stage II (50%) and stage III (13%)., Conclusion: Patients attending the symptomatic breast cancer unit Beaumont Hospital have different demographics compared with the national registry data. This presents particular challenges for management.

Endoscopy is widely used as a clinical diagnosis and treatment method for certain hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases. However, due to the distinctive epidemiological characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the virus causing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), healthcare providers are exposed to the patient's respiratory and gastrointestinal fluids, rendering endoscopy a high risk for transmitting a nosocomial infection. This article introduces preventive measures for endoscopic treatment enacted in our medical center during COVID-19, including the adjustment of indications, the application of endoscope protective equipment, the design and application of endoscopic masks and splash-proof films, and novel recommendations for bedside endoscope pre-sterilization., (© 2020 The Authors. Digestive Endoscopy published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society.)

Background: Healthcare-associated infection is a global threat in healthcare which increases the emergence of multiple drug-resistant microbial infections. Hence, continuous surveillance data is required before or after patient discharge from health institutions though such data is scarce in developing countries. Similarly, ongoing infection surveillance data are not available in Ethiopia. However, various primary studies conducted in the country showed different magnitude and determinants of healthcare-associated infection from 1983 to 2017. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the national pooled prevalence and determinants of healthcare-associated infection in Ethiopia., Methods: We searched PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and grey literature deposited at Addis Ababa University online repository. The quality of studies was checked using Joanna Brigg's Institute quality assessment scale. Then, the funnel plot and Egger's regression test were used to assess publication bias. The pooled prevalence of healthcare-associated infection was estimated using a weighted-inverse random-effects model meta-analysis. Finally, the subgroup analysis was done to resolve the cause of statistical heterogeneity., Results: A total of 19 studies that satisfy the quality assessment criteria were considered in the final meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of healthcare-associated infection in Ethiopia as estimated from 18 studies was 16.96% (95% CI: 14.10%-19.82%). In the subgroup analysis, the highest prevalence of healthcare-associated infection was in the intensive care unit 25.8% (95% CI: 3.55%-40.06%) followed by pediatrics ward 24.16% (95% CI: 12.76%-35.57%), surgical ward 23.78% (95% CI: 18.87%-29.69%) and obstetrics ward 22.25% (95% CI: 19.71%-24.80%). The pooled effect of two or more studies in this meta-analysis also showed that patients who had surgical procedures (AOR = 3.37; 95% CI: 1.85-4.89) and underlying non-communicable disease (AOR = 2.81; 95% CI: 1.39-4.22) were at increased risk of healthcare-associated infection., Conclusions: The nationwide prevalence of healthcare-associated infection has remained a problem of public health importance in Ethiopia. The highest prevalence was observed in intensive care units followed by the pediatric ward, surgical ward and obstetrics ward. Thus, policymakers and program officers should give due emphasis on healthcare-associated infection preventive strategies at all levels. Essentially, the existing infection prevention and control practices in Ethiopia should be strengthened with special emphasis for patients admitted to intensive care units. Moreover, patients who had surgical procedures and underlying non-communicable diseases should be given more due attention., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ward accreditation is fundamental in contemporary healthcare delivery. One NHS trust in southwest England that had been placed in special measures introduced a ward accreditation programme - known as the ASPIRE programme - but the trust's senior nursing leadership team raised concerns about the level of quality assurance provided. Therefore, the trust revised its newly created ward accreditation programme, referring to the evidence base to re-evaluate the metrics used for assessment. Five new elements, including direct registered nurse care time and ward climate, were introduced in the accreditation process. The revision improved confidence in the quality assurance provided by the programme, which became central to the trust's overall improvement plans., Competing Interests: Frazer Underwood participates in the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Senior Nurse and Midwife Research Leader Programme. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or Department of Health and Social Care, (©2020 RCN Publishing Company Ltd. All rights reserved. Not to be copied, transmitted or recorded in any way, in whole or part, without prior permission of the publishers.)

Purpose: The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted health care systems all over the world. Elective surgical procedures have been postponed and/or cancelled. Consensus is, therefore, required related to the factors that need to be in place before elective surgery, including hip and knee replacement surgery, which is restarted. Entirely new pathways and protocols need to be worked out., Methods: A panel of experts from the European Hip Society and European Knee Association have agreed to a consensus statement on how to reintroduce elective arthroplasty surgery safely. The recommendations are based on the best available evidence and have been validated in a separate survey., Results: The guidelines are based on five themes: modification and/or reorganisation of hospital wards. Restrictions on orthopaedic wards and in operation suite(s). Additional disinfection of the environment. The role of ultra-clean operation theatres. Personal protective equipment enhancement., Conclusion: Apart from the following national and local guidance, protocols need to be put in place in the patient pathway for primary arthroplasty to allow for a safe return.

Background: Technology for timely feedback of data has the potential to support quality improvement (QI) in health care. However, such technology may pose difficulties stemming from the complex interaction with the setting in which it is implemented. To enable professionals to use data in QI there is a need to better understand of how to handle this complexity. This study aims to explore factors that influence the adoption of a technology-supported QI programme in an obstetric unit through a complexity informed framework., Methods: This qualitative study, based on focus group interviews, was conducted at a Swedish university hospital's obstetric unit, which used an analytics tool for advanced performance measurement that gave timely and case mix adjusted feedback of performance data to support QI. Data was collected through three focus group interviews conducted with 16 managers and staff. The Nonadoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread, and Sustainability (NASSS) framework guided the data collection and analysis., Results: Staff and managers deemed the technology to effectively support ongoing QI efforts by providing timely access to reliable data. The value of the technology was associated with a clear need to make better use of existing data in QI. The data and the methodology in the analytics tool reflected the complexity of the clinical conditions treated but was presented through an interface that was easy to access and user friendly. However, prior understanding of statistics was helpful to be able to fully grasp the presented data. The tool was adapted to the needs and the organizational conditions of the local setting through a collaborative approach between the technology supplier and the adopters., Conclusions: Technology has the potential to enable systematic QI through motivating professionals by providing timely and adequate feedback of performance. The adoption of such technology is complex and requires openness for gradual learning and improvement.

Background: A novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak began in Wuhan, Hubei Province, in December 2019; the outbreak was caused by a novel coronavirus previously never observed in humans. China has imposed the strictest quarantine and closed management measures in history to control the spread of the disease. However, a high level of evidence to support the surgical management of potential trauma patients during the novel coronavirus outbreak is still lacking. To regulate the emergency treatment of trauma patients during the outbreak, we drafted this paper from a trauma surgeon perspective according to practical experience in Wuhan., Main Body: The article illustrates the general principles for the triage and evaluation of trauma patients during the outbreak of COVID-19, indications for emergency surgery, and infection prevention and control for medical personnel, providing a practical algorithm for trauma care providers during the outbreak period., Conclusions: The measures of emergency trauma care that we have provided can protect the medical personnel involved in emergency care and ensure the timeliness of effective interventions during the outbreak of COVID-19.

The global health system is currently facing the new SARS-COV 2 pandemy. This exceptional situation requires, from our African health systems, to reorganize and readapt the usual protocols when they were carried out before the crisis and/or their urgent implementation otherwise. As imaging is one of the pillars of the diagnosis of infection with this emerging virus, it was essential to rethink the imaging department organization so as to dedicate a unit to COVID-19 activity while maintaining the usual emergency activity within the Ibn Sina university hospital in Rabat. The protection of exposed personnel and the bio-cleaning of radiology equipment and rooms also became an evidence. The active involvement of the administration, the Clinical Pharmacy Department and the Nosocomial Infections Control Committee is a key to the success of this reorganization., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests, (©Fatima Zahrae Laamrani et al.)

From its beginning in December 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak has spread globally from Wuhan and is now declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The sheer scale and severity of this pandemic is unprecedented in the modern era. Although primarily a respiratory tract infection transmitted by direct contact and droplets, during aerosol-generating procedures, there is a possibility of airborne transmission. In addition, emerging evidence suggests possible fecal-oral spread of the virus. Clinical departments that perform endoscopy are faced with daunting challenges during this pandemic. To date, multiple position statements and guidelines have been issued by various professional organizations to recommend practices in endoscopic procedures. This article aims to summarize and discuss available evidence for these practices, to provide guidance for endoscopy to enhance patient safety, avoid nosocomial outbreaks, protect healthcare personnel, and ensure rational use of personal protective equipment. Responses adapted to national recommendations and local infection control guidelines and tailored to the availability of medical resources are imminently needed to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic., (© 2020 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Background: To evaluate whether using a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to implement an evidence-based bundle can reduce 30-day surgical site infection rates in women undergoing cesarean delivery., Methods: This observational study with a preintervention and postintervention design included 2576 consecutive women undergoing cesarean delivery at our tertiary care hospital between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017. The primary outcome was 30-day surgical site infection rate after cesarean delivery defined according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. The preintervention period span from the January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014. After initiation of a Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (ie, a continuous quality improvement program to improve patient safety using a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach adapted on local demands), we introduced a bundle of evidence-based interventions (including preoperative shower, hair removal with clippers, correct antibiotic prophylaxis, maintaining normothermia, glycemic control, and strict compliance with hygiene standards as well as practice good hand hygiene) per January 1, 2015 into clinical routine. The postintervention period span from January 1, 2015 to December 31 2017., Results: In the preintervention period the overall surgical site infection rate was 16 of 1,060 cesarean deliveries versus in the postintervention period the overall surgical site infection rate was 9 of 1,516 cesarean deliveries (1.50% vs 0.56%; P = .033). This corresponds to a relative risk reduction of over 60% after implementation of the evidence-based bundle (odds ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.17-0.89; P = .020)., Conclusions: In the present study, we have adapted the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program strategy to implement an evidence based-bundle into clinical routine. Using this comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach, we could markedly reduce 30-day surgical site infections., (Copyright © 2020 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

An epidemic of an acute respiratory syndrome caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Wuhan, China, now known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), beginning in December 2019, has attracted an intense amount of attention worldwide. As the natural history and variety of clinical presentations of this disease unfolds, extrapulmonary symptoms of COVID-19 have emerged, especially in the digestive system. While the respiratory mode of transmission is well known and is probably the principal mode of transmission of this disease, a possibility of the fecal-oral route of transmission has also emerged in various case series and clinical scenarios. In this review article, we summarize four different aspects in published studies to date: (a) gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19; (b) microbiological and virological investigations; (c) the role of fecal-oral transmission; and (d) prevention and control of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the digestive endoscopy room. A timely understanding of the relationship between the disease and the digestive system and implementing effective preventive measures are of great importance for a favorable outcome of the disease and can help climnicians to mitigate further transmission by taking appropriate measures., (© 2020 Chinese Medical Association Shanghai Branch, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Background: Client satisfaction towards the pharmacist services is essential to measure the level of pharmacy services offered to clients and the implementation of pharmaceutical care in the hospital., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess client satisfaction towards the pharmacist service from April 20 to 30, 2019 at OPD pharmacy of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH). Clients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were interviewed by using a five scale Likert scale. Then data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 21. The results of the study were presented using table, frequency, and percentage. A binary logistic regression was also employed. The association was declared at p<0.05., Result: In this study 250 study participants were included. Majority of the participants were males (56.4%, n = 141) with the mean (±standard deviation) age of 38.97±13.73. The mean satisfaction was 51.6%. Study participants perception on pharmacy staff number insufficiency (AOR = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.17, 0.59) and their perception towards the waiting area scored as somewhat fair (AOR = 0.50 (0.27, 0.94) and not convenient (AOR = 0.18 (0.06, 0.56) were negatively associated with their satisfaction., Conclusion: In this study, study participants have an overall satisfaction of above 50%. Respondent satisfaction for pharmacist approach or communication skill was higher than their satisfaction towards the medication guidance given to them. Study participants perception of the waiting area and staff number sufficiency for the service were significant predictors of their satisfaction. Hence, the TASH administration is expected to improve such pharmaceutical service areas to meet patient demands., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Introduction: Charges, procedural efficiency, return to activity, and complications after closed treatment of fractures performed in an operating room (OR) versus closed reduction in a dedicated fracture reduction room (FRR) were compared., Methods: Patients with closed fractures of the forearm who underwent closed reduction in the year before (OR), and after implementation of the FRR, were retrospectively reviewed. Charges, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, sex, age, length of follow-up, prior reduction, fracture location/displacement, time from injury to procedure, procedural time, time to return to activity, and complications were recorded., Results: Eighteen patients met the inclusion criteria in the FRR group (13 men, 5 women), and 22 in the OR group (18 men, 4 women). No notable differences in age, sex, follow-up, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, fracture location/displacement, incidence of prior reduction, or time to return to activity were observed. Two (9.5%) complications occurred in the FRR group versus 7 (32%) in the OR group, P > 0.05. No anesthesia complications were present. Patients treated in the FRR incurred charges of $5,299 ± $1,289 versus $10,455 ± $2,290 in the OR, P < 0.001. Total time of visit in the FRR was ∼30% less than the OR, P < 0.001. No notable delay in treatment was observed., Discussion: In the era of finite resources and value-based care, implementation of a FRR resulted in safe, cost-effective, and increased procedural efficiency.

Background: Patients treated in health care facilities that provide services in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology, and neonatology are especially vulnerable. Large multidisciplinary teams of physicians, multiple invasive and noninvasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and the use of advanced technologies increase the probability of adverse events. The evaluation of knowledge about patient safety culture among nurses and midwives working in such units and the identification of critical areas at a health care institution would reduce the number of adverse events and improve patient safety. The aim of the study was to evaluate the opinion of nurses and midwives working in clinical departments that provide services in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology, and neonatology about patient safety culture and to explore potential predictors for the overall perception of safety. Methods: We used the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) to evaluate nurses' and midwives' opinion about patient safety issues. The overall response rate in the survey was 100% ( n  = 233). Results: The analysis of the dimensions of safety on the unit level showed that the respondents' most positive evaluations were in the Organizational Learning - Continuous Improvement (73.2%) and Feedback and Communication about Error (66.8%) dimensions, and the most negative evaluations in the Non-punitive Response to Error (33.5%) and Staffing (44.6%) dimensions. On the hospital level, the evaluation of the safety dimensions ranged between 41.4 and 56.8%. The percentage of positive responses in the outcome dimensions Frequency of Events Reported was 82.4%. We found a significant association between the outcome dimension Frequency of Events Reported and the Hospital Management Support for Patient Safety and Feedback and Communication about Error Dimensions. Conclusions: On the hospital level, the critical domains in health care facilities that provide services in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology, and neonatology were Teamwork Across Hospital Units, and on the unit level - Communication Openness, Teamwork Within Units, Non-punitive Response to Error, and Staffing. The remaining domains were seen as having a potential for improvement.

The recommendations that we formulate in this document come from LABAC, SFBC and FAEEQ. They describe the different steps from the initial application of quality controls, based on risk analysis: the changes of reagent batches or internal quality controls (IQC) batches, the course when IQC are not in accordance with references, the choice of external quality evaluation and the interpretation of its results, the comparability of results obtained in several analysers used in the same laboratory. Lastly, measurement uncertainty, robustness of methods and specificities of near-patient biology and rapid tests are described. Note that these recommendations cannot develop all cases that we could find in laboratories. It remains necessary to carry out an objective strategy, supported with documentary evidences.

Background: Concerns have been raised about variation in care quality and outcomes among children and young people with epilepsies in England. We aimed to investigate the association between quality of paediatric care, hospital admissions, and all-cause deaths among epilepsy patients., Methods: In this longitudinal data linkage study of paediatric epilepsy services in England, we linked unit-level data from round 1 (2009-11) and round 2 (2013-14) of the Epilepsy12 national clinical audit, with death registrations from the UK Office for National Statistics and data for unplanned hospital admissions from Hospital Episode Statistics. We investigated the association between unit-level performance in involving a paediatrician with epilepsy expertise, an epilepsy specialist nurse, and a paediatric neurologist (where appropriate) in round 1 and the proportion of adolescents (aged 10-18 years) with epilepsy admitted to each unit who subsequently died during the study period (April 1, 2009, to March 31, 2015). We also investigated whether change in Epilepsy12 performance between the two audit rounds was associated with changes in the standardised ratio of observed-to-expected unplanned epilepsy admissions over the same period., Findings: In 99 units with data for the analyses relating to paediatricians with epilepsy expertise and epilepsy specialist nurses, 134 (7%) of 1795 patients died during the study period, 88 (5%) of whom died after the transition to adult service. In 55 units with data for the analyses relating to paediatric neurologists, 79 (7%) of 1164 patients died, 54 (5%) of whom did so after the transition. In regression models adjusting for population, unit, and hospital activity characteristics, absolute reductions in total mortality risk (6·4 percentage points, 95% CI 0·1-12·7) and mortality risk after transition (5·7 percentage points, 0·6-10·8) were found when comparing units where all versus no eligible patients were seen by a paediatric neurologist. Units where all eligible patients were seen by a paediatric neurologist were estimated to have absolute reductions of 4·6 percentage points (0·3-8·9) in total mortality and of 4·6 percentage points (1·2-8·0) in post-transition mortality, compared with units where no or some eligible patients were seen by a paediatric neurologist. There was no significant association between performance on being seen by an epilepsy specialist nurse or by a paediatrician with epilepsy expertise and mortality. In units where access to an epilepsy specialist nurse decreased, the standardised ratio of epilepsy admissions increased by a mean of 0·21 (0·01-0·42)., Interpretation: Among adolescents with epilepsy, greater involvement of tertiary specialists in paediatric care is associated with decreased all-cause mortality in the period after transition to adult services. Reduced access to an epilepsy specialist nurse was associated with an increase in paediatric epilepsy admissions., Funding: The Health Foundation., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The sterilization unit of Pitié-Salpêtrière-Charles Foix hospital group is ISO 9001 certified on one of its sites. The purpose of this work is to describe how the unit prepared for the transition from the 2008 version to the 2015 version of the standard, as well as the conduct of the audit., Methods: The pharmaceutical team has received prior training from French national organization for standardization (Afnor) to understand the new requirements and how to apply them to the sterilization unit. SWOT and PESTEL methods were used. A 3-month retro planning has been established. Deadlines were the annual management review and the certification audit. Audits carried out by the Quality and Risk Management Department helped to identify the priorities., Results: The compliance of the quality management system (QMS) has led to the identification of internal and external challenges, relevant stakeholders and risks and opportunities. Management leadership and communication has been strengthened and control over external providers has improved. The auditor did not identify any non-compliance, but said that the system had to mature regarding the recent application of the new requirements., Conclusions: The QMS is more effective, new strengths and weaknesses have been identified and requirements of the unit and stakeholders have been better defined. The pharmaceutical investment necessary for this approach has been important. Involvement in the quality approach of all the staff of the unit lies to the success of the project., (Copyright © 2019 Académie Nationale de Pharmacie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Springbank Ward, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, is a Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) unit employing positive risk-taking, allowing for relevant psychological therapies to be carried out. The aim of this survey was to identify staff and patient attitudes to Springbank Ward. Previous research has not addressed the question of patient and staff perception of these therapeutic approaches., Subjects and Methods: We used a qualitative open-ended semi-structured survey of staff and patients (n=2+4, respectively). We gathered information on the perception of the unit, staff, safety and the positive and negative aspects of the ward. Interview transcripts and participation notes were coded and categorised for emerging themes., Results: The four main themes were: views on the unit: 'safe space', 'opportunity', 'community'; views on the programme: 'successful', 'skills-based', involving patients in their own recovery; views on staff: important part of the therapeutic process by delivering elements of dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT); views on safety: patients and staff feel safe in the context of positive risk-taking., Conclusions: The long-term therapeutic programme offered at Springbank is perceived positively by both patients and staff. Involving patients actively in their recovery remains a powerful tool. The delivery of DBT by nursing staff contributes significantly to the positive perception of the unit. Positive risk-taking is perceived to be a good and safe strategy.

A placebo drug is defined as a treatment without any specific pharmacological efficacy, that works when the patient thinks to receive an active treatment, through a psychological and physiological mechanism. This study aimed to evaluate the use of placebo in French hospitals, in Polyvalent Medicine units. A questionnaire comprising 15 items was sent to 372 units. The analysis of 153 responses was conducted from dynamic crosstabs in Excel and using the R software available online. The survey confirmed that the use of placebos in hospital is frequent, with nearly 2/3 of professionals answering the questionnaire declared to use it. The oral capsule is the most commonly used form. Placebo is mainly administered at night, in case of pain, insomnia or anxiety, to so-called "difficult" patients. Placebo is not always given after medical prescription. In most cases, patients are not informed that they receive a placebo. The majority of professionals believed in the placebo effect but considered to be insufficiently informed and trained in the use of placebo in current practice. Although the placebo effect is now demonstrated, ethical and legal considerations recommend placebo treatment only on medical prescription, with the prior information of the patient. The placebo could be used as complementary therapy to conventional treatment in the cases of this therapeutic effectiveness has been demonstrated. Professionals should be trained in the use of placebo in order to avoid nocebo effect and potentiate beneficial effects of placebo., (© 2019 médecine/sciences – Inserm.)

Background: In countries with public health system, hospital bed reductions and increasing social and medical frailty have led to the phenomenon of "outliers" or "outlying hospital in-patients." They are often medical patients who, because of unavailability of beds in their clinically appropriate ward, are admitted wherever unoccupied beds are. The present work is aimed to systematically review literature about quality and safety of care for patients admitted to clinically inappropriate wards., Methods: We performed a systematic review of studies investigating outliers, published in peer-reviewed journals with no time restrictions. Search and screening were conducted by two independent researchers (MLR and ER). Studies were considered potentially eligible for this systematic review if aimed to assess the quality and/or the safety of care for patients admitted to clinically inappropriate units. Our search was supplemented by a hand search of references of included studies. Given the heterogeneity of studies, results were analyzed thematically. We used PRISMA guidelines to report our findings., Results: We collected 17 eligible papers and grouped them into six thematic categories. Despite their methodological limits, the included studies show increased trends in mortality and readmissions among outliers. Quality of care and patient safety are compromised as patients and health professionals declare and risk analysis displays. Reported solutions are often multicomponent, stress early discharge but have not been investigated in the control group., Conclusions: Published literature cannot definitely conclude on the quality and safety of care for patients admitted to clinically inappropriate wards. As they may represent a serious threat for quality and safety, and moreover often neglected and under valued, well-designed and powered prospective studies are urgently needed.

Aim: Identified Palliative Care Beds (Lits Identifiés Soins Palliatifs - LISPs) is a French specificity. Primarily created to integrate palliative care culture into conventional hospital units, the relevance of this measure became a controversial issue. Nowadays, hospital teams continue to frequently encounter complex situations regarding medical care for palliative patients. To the best of our knowledge, there is only one study, a quantitative one, bridging the gap about that subject. It showed failure in practicing palliative care work around LISP. Our study is based on a qualitative method that complements the quantitative study. It aimed to describe difficulties that limit palliative care practices in managing adult patients in LISP., Method: This qualitative exploratory survey was conducted with a sample of health service professionals (n=20), from senior physicians to caregivers. Each semi-structured interview included open questions regarding their experiences, feelings and difficulties with palliative care practices on LISP. It also included closed questions concerning interviewee's demographics and career course. The data for this research were submitted to a two-stage analysis: first, a global review of each interview was performed to identify trends. Then, a detailed breakdown, question by question, was implemented., Results: From a quantitative perspective, the interviews revealed 305 difficulties, indicating the gaps and barriers limiting the implementation of a palliative approach in these services. From a qualitative perspective, five topics raised our attention by their recurrence in discourses: (1) partial knowledge about palliative care definition and legislation mostly due to a lack of training; (2) need for time; (3) need for human resources; (4) need for communication; (5) hard time in transitioning from curative to palliative care., Perspective: This survey gives the opportunity to understand health service professionals' difficulties in practicing palliative care in conventional medical services. It raises the central issue of the pricing reform on the health institutes activity. It also provides angles of inquiry to improve LISP effectiveness. This qualitative and descriptive study was designed to explore difficulties in practicing palliative care around LISP. Nevertheless, according to the size of the sample, results will need to be confirmed by a more extensive qualitative survey., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The quality of the screening of vanA and/or vanB Vancomycin-resistant enterococcal (VRE) carriage by patients transferred from foreign countries plays a role in the management of risks linked to extensively drug resistant organisms (XDRO). Accreditation of the screening according to the NF EN ISO 15189 and NF EN ISO/IEC 17025 standards contributes to satisfy the level of quality. Our laboratory was already accredited according to the NF EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard. We used its quality management system and the type B widened flexible scope to identify the required criteria based on microbiology and infection control standards and those of Afnor and Cofrac, and to validate the screening procedure. Accreditation was obtained for use of the Type B scope, for culture-based detection and identification (codes BA1 and BA5), for determination of the minimal inhibitory concentrations of glycopeptides (code BA6), and for the detection of resistance genes to glycopeptides by polymerase chain reaction (code BA8). The maturity of our quality management system contributed to validate the screening procedures following the required criteria of the NF EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard.

Background: The quality of care and outcomes for people who experience stroke whilst in hospital for another condition has not been previously studied in Australia., Aims: To explore differences in long-term outcomes among patients with in-hospital events treated in stroke units (SUs) compared to those managed in other hospital wards., Methods: Forty-five hospitals participating in the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry between January 2010 and December 2014 contributed data. Survival of all patients with in-hospital stroke to 180 days after stroke and health-related quality of life, using EQ-5D-3L among 73% eligible, were compared using multilevel, multivariable regression models. Models were adjusted for age, sex, index of relative socioeconomic disadvantage, ability to walk, stroke type, transfer from another hospital, and history of stroke., Results: Among 20,786 stroke events, 1182 (5.1%) occurred in-hospital (median age 77 years, 49% male). Patients with in-hospital stroke treated in SUs died less often within 30 days (Hazard Ratio 0.56; 95% CI 0.39-0.81) than those not admitted to SUs. Survivors reported similar health-related quality of life between 90 and 180 days compared to those treated in other wards (coefficient = 0.01, 95% CI -0.06-0.09, P = .78). Patients managed in SUs more often received recommended management (e.g. swallowing screening)., Conclusion: The benefits of SU care may extend to patients experiencing in-hospital stroke. Validation, including accounting for potential residual confounding factors, is required., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The UHSA (UHSA) are French psychiatric units for inmates which admit detainees suffering from a psychiatric disorder requiring full-time hospital care. Non-psychiatric pathologies are overrepresented in patients with psychiatric disorders but also in detainees. As a result, patients hospitalized in UHSA are largely exposed to non-psychiatric conditions, and exploring the organization of general medical care for these patients appears very relevant. The aim of this study is to review the general medical care in all French UHSA., Methods: A descriptive study was carried out through a survey of the nine facilities., Results: All UHSA benefit from the intervention of a general practitioner. The physical clinical examination, the biological assessment and the electrocardiogram are systematically performed at the patient's admission in 7, 5 and 9 establishments, respectively. However, the offer of general medical care in UHSA seems disparate and sometimes insufficient. Specialized consultations are regularly requested during hospitalizations, but no establishment benefits from a telemedicine system or specialized consultations on site. The extraction of the patient to the general hospital is therefore systematic when such a consultation is needed. But the number of penitentiary escorts per day is limited. In 6 UHSA, medical extractions are thus regularly canceled by the penitentiary administration, sometimes without a medical opinion. Finally, the patient's regular physician is only contacted in 3 UHSA during hospitalizations., Conclusion: Based on these results, ways of improving the organization of general medical care in UHSA are proposed through four main axes: the structure and general organization; the general medical care; the link with the healthcare partners and the articulation with the penitentiary administration., (Copyright © 2018 L'Encéphale, Paris. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

This article describes the revised criteria for certified stroke units (SU) in Germany that will apply from 1 October 2018. Due to the high level of quality only minor adjustments and specifications were necessary in many places and the majority of criteria remained unchanged. For the first time a uniform personnel quota of ≥1.75 full-time staff per monitor bed is defined, which is a better reflection of the treatment reality. The evidence-based process of acute vascular imaging using computed tomography angiography (CTA) and alternatively magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is now defined as a minimum rate of≥20 % of all brain infarcts. In this way the timely identification of suitable candidates for endovascular thrombectomy (ET) should be accomplished. Ultrasound diagnostics of arteries supplying the brain remain an integral part of additional diagnostics after cerebral ischemia because this generates supplementary information. The extended detection of atrial fibrillation is newly included as a diagnostic minimum standard and necessitates measures that go beyond a single long-term electrocardiograph (ECG). In order to facilitate the certification of telemedically supplied SU (Tele-SU), the minimum standard of stroke patients was reduced to ≥200 per year. A Tele-SU in the immediate catchment area of a certified SU (<20 km) must provide proof of a regional treatment need in order for certification to be approved. Quality criteria in the audit reports have now a greater importance. They require a concrete plan of action, which must be tracked within the framework of the interim report and must be presented for the recertification. Furthermore, the SU are called upon not to limit the endeavors for quality only to the minimum requirements.

The background and the aim of the work: The Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of the "Carlo Poma" Hospital (Social Territorial Health Authority of Mantova), has pointed out in 2017, through the questionnaires survey over the citizens satisfaction, an appreciation decrease compared to the previous years. The obtained data were not sufficiently explanatory of the reasons for that kind of deterioration and also not enough specific to define possible corrective measures. The aim of this work was to identify the patients' perception regarding the hospitalization phases (from booking to follow up), taking into account five kind of operations and pathologies: 1st knee, shoulder and tibio-talar arthroscopy; 2nd hip and knee prosthesis; 3rd upper limb traumatology; 4th lower limb traumatology and 5th orthogeriatrics., Methods: The research is based on 29 narrations resulted from orthopedic patients between 30 and 80 days after the time of discharge., Results: The phases of care path which get the highest level of satisfaction are those concerning the operation and the outpatient visit followed by rehabilitation and assistive continuation. The most negative phase was the discharge but, also the needs assistance respond, the reception, the microclimate and the pre-operative medical assessment resulted contradictory. At the same time the three most significant areas of improvement were: the organization (critical for upper limb traumatology, arthroscopy and prosthetics); the health features (critical for the lower limb, orthogeriatrics and traumatology) and medical information (the most critical issues were those concerning the upper limb traumatology while the less were the orthogeriatrics ones)., Conclusion: Use the narration to go into the orthopedic patient needs and perceptions allows to activate appropriate and customized organizational and professional changes in order to answer adequatly to the patient's needs to limit litigation and defence medicine expences.

Introduction: Hospital occupancy rate by older patients is high, and it will be even higher in the future. Their hospital stay is usually longer, making it important for hospitals to develop structures with the best efficiency possible., Method: Hospital discharges of patients older than 75years with the 15 most frequent Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRG) in Geriatrics were recorded during a 5-year period in a 1,200-bed hospital. Length of stay was compared between the two acute geriatric units (AGU), one in the general hospital (GH) and another in an affiliate hospital (AH), as well as with the rest of departments., Results: A total of 14,948 discharged patients were included. Length of stay was 2.9 (25%) days shorter in AGU units than in the rest of departments. Differences were 22% (9.2 vs 11.7days) in 2011, 16% (9.3 vs 11.1days) in 2012, 21% (9.3 vs 11.1days) in 2013, 34% (7.4 vs 11.1days) in 2014, and 25% (8.3 vs 11days) in 2015 in the GH. Differences were 18% (10.4 vs 12.7days) in 2011, 19% (9.5 vs 11.7days) in 2012, 25% (8.8 vs 11.7days) in 2013, 24% (8.8 vs 11.6days) in 2014, and 32% (9 vs 13.1days) in 2015 at the AH, all of them with a P<.05., Conclusions: AGU are 25% more efficient than the rest of hospital departments in managing hospital admissions of patients older than 75years., (Copyright © 2018 SEGG. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The overwhelming benefit of endovascular therapy in patients with large-vessel occlusions suggests that more patients will be screened than treated. Some of those patients will be evaluated first at primary stroke centers; this type of evaluation calls for standardizing the imaging approach to minimize delays in assessing, transferring, and treating these patients. Here, we propose that CT angiography (performed at the same time as head CT) should be the minimum imaging approach for all patients with stroke with suspected large-vessel occlusion presenting to primary stroke centers. We discuss some of the implications of this approach and how to facilitate them., (© 2019 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.)

Background/purpose: Some patients perceive the experience of hospitalization in an epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) to be an uncomfortable one. In order to provide comfort-enhancing measures, nurses need to assess comfort levels. For this purpose, Kolcaba developed the General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ), which may be modified for usage in specific settings. The objective of this study was to develop an instrument to assess comfort of adult patients during hospitalization in an EMU, namely the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit Comfort Questionnaire (EMUCQ)., Methods: The GCQ was translated from American English into German following the guidelines of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcome Research (ISPOR). Three native German speakers with good command of the English language did forward translations. An expert who grew up bilingual did a backtranslation. For use in an EMU, literature-based setting-specific items were added. In a qualitative-descriptive study, cognitive debriefing with 25 patients was conducted using cognitive interviews. Qualitative data analysis was based on the framework method. In a quantitative-descriptive study, nine clinical experts assessed content validity., Results: For setting-specific modification, 12 items pertaining to surroundings, feeling observed, and feeling afraid of a seizure were added to the translated GCQ. Based on the initial content validity rating, 26 items remained unchanged, 12 items underwent revisions, and 14 items were omitted. Eight items were put aside for a follow-up rating in the context of cognitive debriefing. Cognitive interviewing revealed problems regarding the interpretation of items and missing items. According to the results, 27 items remained unchanged, 11 items were reworded, and six items were added. The final content validity rating showed item-content validity indices (I-CVI) between .33 and 1, and an average CVI on a scale level (S-CVI/ave) of .84., Conclusions: Enhancing comfort is a fundamental nursing goal in demanding situations. Therefore, the contribution of nurses to the quality of individualized patient care is a substantial one. The EMUCQ is a valuable tool to support the assessment of comfort levels. The ISPOR guidelines proved to be useful to ensure high quality of the translated instrument. Using cognitive interviews enhanced the understandability of items and supported modification of the GCQ. At present, S-CVI/ave value of the EMUCQ is acceptable. Further testing is necessary., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To develop a proposal for a portfolio of services and a set of indicators for Headache Units., Development: Qualitative study that applied techniques of consensus with the participation of 15 professionals who are experts in the treatment of headaches (experience of 15 years) and in quality assurance. The description of the indicators included: statement, definition, standard, type of indicator, dimension, source, level of evidence, and clarification of terms. The proposal for a portfolio of services included the following areas: clinical management, patient-centered care, community involvement, knowledge management, translational research, and social dissemination. The proposal converged in 13 indicators exploring five dimensions., Conclusions: This proposal contributes to ensure and assess the level of quality of a Headache Unit or outpatient clinic.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is part of the standard of care for many hematological diseases. Over the last decades, significant advances in patient and donor selection, conditioning regimens as well as supportive care of patients undergoing allogeneic HCT leading to improved overall survival have been made. In view of many new treatment options in cellular and molecular targeted therapies, the place of allogeneic transplantation in therapy concepts must be reviewed. Most aspects of HCT are well standardized by national guidelines or laws as well as by certification labels such as FACT-JACIE. However, the requirements for human resources, construction and layout of a unit treating patients during the transplantation procedure and for different complications are not well defined. Here, we describe the process of planning a transplant unit in order to open a discussion that could lead to more precise guidelines in the field of personnel and infrastructural requirements for hospitals caring for people with severe immunosuppression., (Copyright © 2018 Société Française du Cancer. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objectives:: To create opportunities to increase nursing staff's satisfaction and operational efficiency and eventually improve nurses' experiences through better design in unit layout., Background:: The majority of research performed on nursing units in China only focused on the spatial design itself, and few studies examined the nursing unit empirically based on nurses' experience. Nursing units need to be designed with understanding nurses' behavior and experience in China., Method:: A mixed-method approach was conducted in four double-corridor nursing units in China. Observation and interview data were collected to explore how physical environments for managing administrative duties, medications, and caring patient were used in nursing units., Results:: The most frequent activities were communication, medication, and patient-care activities. The places in which nurses spent the most of theirs working times were the nurse station (NS), patient room, workstation on wheels (WoW), and medication room. The important clinical work spaces were the patient room, NS, WoW, medication room, doctor's office, disposal room, examining room, and back corridor. The important traffic linkages were between NS and medication room, patient room and WoW, and medication room and patient room., Conclusions:: This article revealed the frequency of nurse activities; how they spent their time; how they use the clinical spaces; identified important clinical spaces, linkages, and driver of inefficiency in nursing work and nursing unit design; and finally generated recommendations for double-corridor nursing unit design in China which can be used by medical planner, hospital administrator.

Objectives: To quantify variation in use and complications from peripherally inserted central catheters placed in the ICU versus peripherally inserted central catheters placed on the general ward., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: Fifty-two hospital Michigan quality collaborative., Patients: Twenty-seven-thousand two-hundred eighty-nine patients with peripherally inserted central catheters placed during hospitalization., Measurements and Main Results: Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient, provider, and device characteristics. Bivariate tests were used to assess differences between peripherally inserted central catheters placed in the ICU versus peripherally inserted central catheters placed on the ward. Multilevel mixed-effects generalized linear models adjusting for patient and device factors with a logit link clustered by hospital were used to examine the association between peripherally inserted central catheter complications and location of peripherally inserted central catheter placement. Variation in ICU peripherally inserted central catheter use, rates of complications, and appropriateness of use across hospitals was also examined. Eight-thousand two-hundred eighty patients (30.3%) received peripherally inserted central catheters in the ICU versus 19,009 (69.7%) on the general ward. The commonest indication for peripherally inserted central catheter use in the ICU was difficult IV access (35.1%) versus antibiotic therapy (53.3%) on wards. Compared with peripherally inserted central catheters placed in wards, peripherally inserted central catheters placed in the ICU were more often multilumen (59.5% vs 39.3; p < 0.001) and more often associated with a complication (odds ratio, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.18-1.43; p < 0.001). Substantial variation in ICU peripherally inserted central catheter use and outcomes across hospitals was observed, with median peripherally inserted central catheter dwell time ranging from 3 to 38.5 days (p < 0.001) and complications from 0% to 40.2% (p < 0.001). Importantly, 87% (n = 45) of ICUs reported median peripherally inserted central catheter dwell times less than or equal to 14 days, a duration where traditional central venous catheters, not peripherally inserted central catheters, are considered appropriate by published criteria., Conclusions: Peripherally inserted central catheter use in the ICU is highly variable, associated with complications and often not appropriate. Further study of vascular access decision-making in the ICU appears necessary.

Background: Treatment of stroke patients in stroke units has increased and studies have shown improved outcomes. However, a large share of patients in Germany is still treated in hospitals without stroke unit. The effects of stroke unit service line, and total hospital quality certification on outcomes remain unclear., Methods: We employ annual hospital panel data for 1100-1300 German hospitals from 2006 to 2014, which includes structural data and 30-day standardized mortality. We estimate hospital- and time-fixed effects regressions with three main independent variables: (1) stroke unit care, (2) stroke unit certification, and (3) total hospital quality certification., Results: Our results confirm the trend of decreasing stroke mortality ratios, although to a much lesser degree than previous studies. Descriptive analysis illustrates better stroke outcomes for non-certified and certified stroke units and hospitals with total hospital quality certification. In a fixed effects model, having a stroke unit has a significant quality-enhancing effect, lowering stroke mortality by 5.6%, while there is no significant improvement effect for stroke unit certification or total hospital quality certification., Conclusions: Patients and health systems may benefit substantially from stroke unit treatment expansion as installing a stroke unit appears more meaningful than getting it certified or obtaining a total hospital quality certification. Health systems should thus prioritize investment in stroke unit infrastructure and centralize stroke care in stroke units. They should also prioritize patient-based 30-day mortality data as it allows a more realistic representation of mortality than admission-based data.

There are lack of indicators of quality of care in resuscitation units of emergency departments. With the aim of proposing a series of indicators to evaluate the quality of care delivered in hospital resuscitation areas, we conducted a descriptive study of 7579 admissions to the resuscitation unit of an emergency department at a Spanish hospital between 2012 and 2016. The proposed indicators were the percentage of patients attending to the emergency department admitted to the resuscitation area by level of triage, the length of stay, the percentage of patients moved to intensive care and surgery at disposition, the mortality in the area or in the emergency department within 24 hours of disposition, and the data completeness. A majority of the patients (62.6%) were men and the median age was 68 years. Over 99% of the required data were recorded. Median length of stay in the resuscitation unit was 0.87 hours (interquartile range, 0.5-1.5). Approximately 80% of patients categorized as an emergency on admission to the emergency department were admitted to the resuscitation unit, although the proportion of urgency patients was higher. The main disposition destination was a trauma cubicle (82.3% of cases). Mortality was 0.41%.Specific indicators are needed to assess the quality of care delivery in resuscitation units. We believe that our findings will provide new insights into the work done to date in this field.

Objective:: To determine the effectiveness of simulation in improving staff confidence to provide safe patient care in a new or unfamiliar patient care area., Background:: Hospitals undergo constant renovation to meet the needs of the populations they serve. Relocating to a newly renovated care area can potentially impact patient safety through workflow process changes., Method:: Simulated patient care scenarios were used to assess functionality of equipment and staff orientation to a newly renovated ward. Additionally, staff confidence to provide safe patient care was assessed prior to patient relocation., Results:: All participating staff reported feeling confident in their ability to provide safe patient care within the newly renovated ward at the conclusion of the exercise., Conclusions:: In this case study, the use of simulated patient care scenarios was successful to orientate staff to a new clinical space. Additionally, staff were able to identify workflow changes and access the functionality of newly installed equipment. This exercise allowed staff to gain confidence in their ability to provide safe patient care in a newly renovated area.

Purpose:: The purpose of this research is to (1) investigate the impact of nursing unit design on nursing staff communication patterns and, ultimately, on patient falls in acute care nursing units; and (2) evaluate whether differences in fall rates, if found, were associated with the nursing unit physical structure (shape) or size., Background:: Nursing staff communication and nursing unit design are frequently linked to patient safety outcomes, yet little is known about the impact of specific nursing unit designs on nursing communication patterns that might affect patient falls., Method:: An exploratory longitudinal correlational design was used to measure nursing unit communication structures using social network analysis techniques. Data were collected 4 times over a 7-month period. Floor plans were used to determine nursing unit design. Fall rates were provided by hospital coordinators., Results:: An analysis of covariance controlling for hospitals resulted in a statistically significant interaction of unit shape and size (number of beds). The interaction occurred when medium- and large-sized racetrack-shaped units intersected with medium- and large-sized cross-shaped units., Conclusion:: The results suggest that nursing unit design shape impacts nursing communication patterns, and the interaction of shape and size may impact patient falls. How those communication patterns affect patient falls should be considered when planning hospital construction of nursing care units.

Objective: To identify barriers and facilitators in the implementation of quality standards in hospital day care units (HDCU) in rheumatology., Material and Methods: We analyzed appraisals of HDCU in terms of standards for structure, processes and results. The qualitative approach was conducted through 13 discussion groups created by rheumatology health professionals (7), nursing professionals (4) and HDCU patients (2). The recruitment of informants was done through purposive sampling, attending to variables that form the perceptions of the HDCU. Data analysis was performed using a descriptive-interpretive method., Results: The specialization of the HDCU and specific training in rheumatology for nursing are perceived as the main facilitator for the implementation of standards. Conversely, the delay in the availability of medicines at the HDCU is identified as a barrier that prolongs patient stay and wastes resources. Differences in local regulations are perceived as a potential barrier to equitable access to medicines. The patients gave higher ratings to the care received than to structural variables or those related to process., Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that improvements in the implementation of quality standards in HDCU may include three levels of action: the HDCU, the hospital and a third related to local regulations to access to medicines., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Reumatología y Colegio Mexicano de Reumatología. All rights reserved.)