AHRQ Toolkit to Improve Safety for Mechanically Ventilated Patients

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently released a new toolkit for clinicians: Toolkit To Improve Safety for Mechanically Ventilated Patients.  This toolkit is available to help hospitals improve safety for mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care units (ICUs).

According to AHRQ, this toolkit can be used by staff to apply proven principles and methods of AHRQ’s Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program to reduce complications.

The Web-based resource provides tools to help ICU staff follow recommended bedside care, support patient mobility as soon as possible to speed recovery, and apply protective ventilation practices to reduce potential complications including ventilator-associated pneumonia. Ventilator-assisted pneumonia affects as many as 20 percent of patients who are on a ventilator for more than 48 hours.

The toolkit offers technical bundles, literature reviews, sample protocols, and other resources to help ICU staff:

• Use the best recommended daily care processes at the bedside
• Support patient mobility as soon as clinically possible to speed healing and reduce complications
• Apply Low Tidal Volume Ventilation practices to reduce potential complications

The toolkit consists of four modules and other resources that will help ICUs uncover local defects, implement interventions to prevent ventilator-associated events, and build a sustainable safety culture.  The modules and included materials can be used in any order or combination, and their use should be tailored to the needs of the organization. The modules and other resources include:

• Module on How To Apply CUSP for Mechanically Ventilated Patients
• Technical Bundles Module
• Ventilator-Associated Events and Outcome Measures Module
• Sustainability Module
• Other Resources

MCN Related Products:

Infection Prevention and Control Manual

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