Author ORCID Identifier
Date of Graduation
2024
Document Type
Problem/Project Report
Degree Type
DNP
College
School of Nursing
Committee Chair
Aaron Ostrowski
Committee Co-Chair
Erika Smith
Committee Member
Erika Smith
Committee Member
Erin Donley
Abstract
Abstract
Implementation of a Pilot Quality Improvement Project to Update Surgeon Preference Cards
of a Community Hospital’s Orthopedic Service
Jessica R. Mitchell
Problem Statement: Over time, surgeons change preferences for surgical equipment, and their preference cards need updating. Failure to update preference cards leads to impaired staff communication, opening of unnecessary equipment, excess waste, increased cost to patients and facilities, and potential threats to patient safety.
Background: Members of the orthopedic surgical team in a community hospital in suburban West Virginia wanted to establish a process to regularly update outdated surgeon preference cards (SPC) for several common orthopedic procedures. The preference cards convey important information to operating room (OR) staff to promote efficient and safe intraoperative care of patients. Outdated or inaccurate information may increase wasting of supplies, decrease efficiency of OR time, increase costs, and potentially decrease safety for patients.
Project Goal: The purpose of this project was to establish a process for reviewing and updating surgeon preference cards for the orthopedic service in the operating room of a community hospital in suburban West Virginia.
Project Aims: 1) Evaluate the current process for updating surgeon preference cards
2) Implement a pilot project to update and standardize surgeon preference cards 3) Evaluate the usefulness of the pilot project to update and standardize surgical preference cards
Methods: The project director met with three orthopedic surgeons, physician assistants, and service line coordinators to review and update surgeon preference cards to implement and standardize their preferences for knee arthroplasty, hip arthroplasty, and shoulder arthroscopy. Pre and post intervention costs of each procedure were compared, and surveys administered to OR registered nurses, surgical technicians, physician assistants, and surgeons were analyzed.
Results: Pre and post intervention mean cost analysis was completed per surgeon evaluating each surgical procedure using a paired t-test for evaluation of post intervention savings. Surgeon A results indicated that there was no significant difference when the SPCs were updated (p = 0.476). Surgeon B results indicated that there was a significant difference with cost post implementation (p = 0.022). Surgeon C results indicated that there was not significant difference in cost post implementation (p = 0.405). Survey results were analyzed using a Likert scale to evaluate sense of preparedness with updated SPCs. The participants (n=25) all felt very prepared for the surgical case post implementation.
Conclusion: Evidence suggests costs savings when SPCs are maintained with input from providers. This quality improvement project did not demonstrate consistent cost savings for all procedures and surgeons, however there were cost savings associated with surgeon B for all three procedures that were updated. Surgeon A had a cost savings for knee arthroplasty. Surgeon C had a cost savings for hip arthroplasty, and shoulder arthroscopy. Staff that completed post implementation surveys felt satisfied with the updates to SPCs and felt prepared to perform the surgical cases.
Recommended Citation
Mitchell, Jessica R., "Pilot Quality Improvement Project to Update Surgeon Preference Cards of a Community Hospital's Orthopedic Service" (2024). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 12542.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/12542