Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, ISSN 1918-3003 print, 1918-3011 online, Open Access
Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Clin Med Res and Elmer Press Inc
Journal website http://www.jocmr.org

Original Article

Volume 11, Number 1, January 2019, pages 7-14


Quality Improvement in Ambulatory Surgery Centers: A Major National Effort Aimed at Reducing Infections and Other Surgical Complications

Figure

Figure 1.
Figure 1. Timeline of events.

Tables

Table 1. Partner Organizations of the National Project Team
 
Partner
Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)
Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA)
ASC Quality Collaboration (ASC QC)
Westat
South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA)
Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
Extended faculty network
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA)
Society for Ambulatory Anesthesiology (SAMBA)
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC)
International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM)
Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
The Joint Commission (TJC)
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE)
Association for the Advancement of Medical Instruments (AAMI)
Representatives from state ambulatory surgery associations and ASC management companies

 

Table 2. Cohort Participation: The Project Was Implemented in Eight Cohorts Over the Course of 4 Years
 
Cohort# of facilitiesParticipation dates
AAOS: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Cohort 153April, 2013 - April, 2014
Cohort 2109September, 2013 - September, 2014
Cohort 369April, 2014 - May, 2015
AAOS specialty Cohort12September, 2014 - September, 2015
Cohort 4100September, 2014 - October, 2015
Cohort 5103March, 2015 - April, 2016
Cohort 6 (endoscopy-only)119July, 2015 - April, 2016
Cohort 782September, 2015 - July, 2016

 

Table 3. Project Measurement Components: All Cohorts, as Applicable to Specialty
 
Components/specificationsFrequencyDescription
Facility demographicsOnce, upon enrollmentFacility and staff member demographics
  Project defined data elementsSurgeries and procedures - types and volume
Current data collection, measurement and monitoring efforts
Current quality improvement, patient safety and surgical checklist practices
In-Center outcomes and process measuresMonthlyWrong site, wrong side, wrong patient, wrong procedure, wrong implant
  Ambulatory Surgery Center Quality Collaboration (ASC QC)Hospital transfer / Admission from the ASC
  Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) ProgramPatient burn
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)Patient fall
Prophylactic IV antibiotic timing (if applicable)
Patient safety culture assessmentBeginning and end of projectAssesses staff perceptions of key patient safety elements such as:
  Harvard tool designed for South Carolina Safe Surgery 2015 Project1. Readiness for improvement
2. Teamwork and communication in the OR
3. Adherence to process measures
4. Perceptions of effective use of a safe surgery checklist
Patient satisfactionBeginning and end of projectOverall satisfaction with the center and/or likelihood to recommend the center
  Facility defined

 

Table 4. Educational Program*
 
EventEvent description# of occurrences
*Number of meetings between April 24, 2013 and September 29, 2016. NPT: national project team; EFN: extended faculty network; QIA: quality improvement advisors; QI: quality improvement.
Milestone meetingsMilestone meetings were held with each cohort as an opportunity to touch base at each stage of the program. These meetings were held both virtually and in person and included a kickoff in the beginning of the program, a midcourse meeting around 6 - 7 months into the program, and a final meeting upon program completion. With program redirection, midcourse meetings were held as needed.25
Educational webinarsEducational webinars were 60 min of web-based training that was structured to include 45 min of content and 15 min of question and answer. Webinars were hosted by the NPT and covered topics in the areas of data collection and reporting, checklist and safety, and infection prevention.74
Office hoursOffice hours were monthly calls facilitated by a member of the NPT and were a platform for participating facilities to discuss their barriers and successes, leverage peer-to-peer experience, and learn how to improve program goals. Office hours educational topics were informed by participants, EFN, and partners through the Office Hours Evaluation Survey as well as feedback from monthly partner and EFN calls. QIAs actively participated in office hours by facilitating discussion, encouraging online peer-to-peer communication, and answering questions.35
Learning groupsLearning groups were small group discussions facilitated by QIAs. Benefits of these interactions included creating a sense of community within the program, providing time to share success stories and challenges, and building lasting networking relationships for program participants. Discussion topics included physician engagement, how to conduct the debriefing at the end of a case, administering the culture survey, speaking up using structured language, and use of the QI framework.122
Master trainer eventsThe master trainer events occurred annually throughout the project. These events focused on several train-the-trainer educational events on the topics of coaching, TeamSTEPPS teamwork and communication tools, and patient and family engagement within ambulatory settings.4

 

Table 5. Unexpected Events: Cohorts 3 - 7, AAOS Pilot
 
Components/specificationFrequencyDescription
ASC: ambulatory surgery center; ED: emergency department; SSI: surgical site infection; AAOS: the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Unexpected eventsAs they occur, C3 and beyondFor each event listed below, facilities provide additional information including the procedure that took place in the ASC, date of the event, date of the procedure, reason for transfer/admission, and how the facility found out about the event:
1. Wrong side, site, patient, procedure, implant
2. Hospital transfer/admission from the ASC
3. Hospitalization or ED visit within 48 h of discharge from ASC
4. Reoperation within 48 h of discharge from ASC
5. SSI
6. Other infection (Non-SSI)
7. Cancelled procedure
8. Other unexpected event
In addition, cohort specific events include:
1. Wrong side, site anesthesia block (AAOS cohort)
2. Unplanned intervention- resolved in the ASC (endoscopy cohort)

 

Table 6. Number of Unexpected Events Reported: Cohorts 3 - 7, AAOS Pilot
 
Event descriptionNumber of events reportedPercent of all events reported
The highest number of events was related to same day cancellations, hospital transfer/admission, and hospital/ED visit within 48 h, and “other”. The most common reasons for hospital transfer/admission from the ASC were unstable vital signs, airway management concerns, and cardiac issues. The most common reasons for “other” were unexpected preoperative findings such as high blood pressure, fever, high glucose and patients unprepared for procedure.
Same day cancelled procedure (Cohort 6 only)2,60254%
Other74816%
Hospital transfer/admission from the ASC55212%
Hospital admission/ED visit within 48 h of discharge from the ASC47910%
Surgical site infection1433%
Unplanned intervention resolved in the ASC922%
Cancelled surgery due to medical reason (Cohort 7 only)1042%
Reoperation within 48 h of discharge from the ASC571%
Other infection (Non-SSI)170%