Assignment Instructions Consider The Following Hypothetical

Assignment Instructionsconsider The Following Hypothetical Scenarioy

Consider the following hypothetical scenario: You have been chosen as your nursing unit’s representative for a quality review team at your healthcare system. The team has been asked to review technology used at the hospital in a protocol or process to improve patient outcomes (for example: catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), fall prevention, etc.). When choosing a protocol, think about the types of technologies used to implement and/or perform the protocol. For this assignment, you have been tasked with completing a review of the technologies used within one protocol. You will need to create a PowerPoint presentation which describes the results of the critique you have performed and recommendations to the group. Describe and critique a protocol used on your healthcare unit using the guidelines listed below. Describe the purpose and significance of the protocol and the technologies used. Determine if the technologies used in the protocol communicate. Identify any gaps noted and provide recommendations. Identify other stakeholders within the organization who should receive this feedback. Please note: If you do not work in a healthcare facility, work remotely, or are a home health nurse, consider a process that you carry out to ensure patient safety. What technology do you use in performing this process? Create the PowerPoint presentation based upon the technology you use and follow the guidelines listed below. PowerPoint Guidelines: Application: Use Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 or versions after 2007 (no XP). Length: The PowerPoint slide show is expected to be no more than 15 slides in length (not including the title slide and reference list slide). Submission: Submit your files via the drop box: “Technologies used in Protocol” by 11:59 PM on Sunday of week 5. Technical writing: APA format is required. Submit assignment with your last name in document title; example: “Smith_protocol_week5”. Late Submission: See the course policy on late submissions. Tutorial: If needed, Microsoft Office has many templates and tutorials to help you get started. Assignment Guidelines: Your presentation should include a title slide, an introduction slide, summary slide, and reference slide. The title slide, introduction slide, and reference slide do not count towards the presentation slide numbers. The introduction should briefly describe the purpose for this presentation. Identify a protocol used in the healthcare setting you normally practice (if currently not practicing, find a protocol used in a healthcare setting near you). The introduction should establish a professional tone for the presentation. Discuss the following features of the protocol: Provide a general description and significance of the protocol. Describe how the protocol aligns with evidence-based practice (e.g., identify a minimum of 2 scholarly articles that support/refute actions identified in the protocol). Identify any technologies currently used by healthcare system to complete the actions in the protocols. Provide a brief description of each technology used in the protocol. Describe the purpose for the technology use (e.g., communication, assess information, etc.). Describe if and how the technologies communicate among each other. Describe how the nurse is able to access the information needed to complete the protocol. What gaps in technology communicating with technology are noted after reviewing this information? Summarize the analysis and offer recommendations to achieve better protocol results and improve the use of technology within the protocol (e.g., what would one recommend to refine the protocol?). What is the process to provide feedback of the recommendations in addition to your supervisor? (e.g., practice committee, supervisor/manager, etc.) The following are best practices in preparing this project: Provide a professional presentation. Review directions thoroughly. Cite all sources within the slide show as well as in the reference page. Proofread prior to final submission. Spell check for spelling and grammar errors prior to final submission. Abide by the GCON academic integrity policy.

Paper For Above instruction

The effectiveness and safety of healthcare protocols are critically dependent on the integration and communication of technology within clinical workflows. This presentation aims to critique a specific clinical protocol used within a healthcare setting, emphasizing the technologies involved, their communication efficacy, and identifying potential gaps. The chosen protocol focuses on preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), a significant patient safety concern in hospitals worldwide. CAUTI prevention protocols typically involve multiple technological tools designed to monitor, assess, and communicate patient data efficiently, with the ultimate goal of reducing infection rates and improving patient outcomes.

The significance of the CAUTI prevention protocol lies in its capacity to reduce patient morbidity, length of hospital stay, and healthcare costs. Evidence-based practices underpin this protocol, aligning with guidelines from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). These guidelines recommend strict catheter insertion and maintenance protocols, along with surveillance and staff education. Scholarly research supports the efficacy of technological interventions such as electronic health records (EHRs), electronic order sets, and monitoring systems in enhancing adherence to these practices. For example, Saint et al. (2016) demonstrate that real-time surveillance tools significantly reduce infection rates, supporting the importance of technology in infection control practices.

Technologies used within this protocol include Electronic Health Records (EHR), which provide comprehensive patient data; electronic order entry systems, which streamline catheter insertion and maintenance orders; and automated surveillance systems, which monitor infection rates and compliance in real time. Each technology serves distinct purposes. The EHR consolidates patient information, including lab results, catheter insertion documentation, and vital signs, accessible to nurses and clinicians for informed decision-making. The electronic order systems facilitate timely and accurate requests for catheter insertions or removals, ensuring standardized procedures. Automated surveillance systems analyze data continuously, alerting staff when infection thresholds are breached or when protocols are not followed.

An important aspect of technology integration is communication among different systems. In an optimal setup, EHRs should communicate seamlessly with electronic order systems and surveillance tools, ensuring real-time data sharing and minimizing manual data entry errors. However, reviewing the current setup reveals gaps: often, EHR systems do not communicate effectively with surveillance tools, leading to delays or incomplete data transfer. This disconnect hampers timely intervention, reducing the protocol’s overall effectiveness. Furthermore, nurse access to real-time data relies heavily on system interoperability; where communication failures exist, nurses face challenges in extracting up-to-date information promptly.

These gaps highlight the need for improved system integration. Upgrading interfaces to ensure interoperability between EHR and surveillance tools is critical. Additionally, incorporating mobile access for nurses on bedside devices could enhance data accessibility, enabling immediate decision-making. Implementing standardized data formats and middleware solutions could facilitate smoother communication across platforms. Regular training on new technological interfaces also helps staff adapt and utilize available tools efficiently.

Based on this critique, several recommendations emerge. First, integrate all involved systems to enable seamless communication, reducing manual work and errors. Second, invest in user-friendly interfaces, especially mobile solutions, to improve nursing workflow and data accessibility. Third, establish ongoing staff training programs to keep staff up to date with technological advancements. Fourth, involve clinical staff in designing system upgrades to ensure practicality and relevance. These steps can significantly enhance protocol adherence and improve patient outcomes.

Feedback mechanisms should include regular meetings with the practice committee and direct supervisor to review technological performance and identify ongoing issues. Creating a structured process for anonymous reporting of technological challenges can also promote continuous improvement. The importance of leadership support in implementing these recommendations cannot be overstated, as organizational buy-in facilitates resource allocation and policy development aligned with technological enhancements.

In conclusion, technology plays an integral role in the success of infection prevention protocols like CAUTI prevention. Addressing current communication gaps through system integration, staff education, and user-centered design holds promise for optimizing these protocols. Continuous evaluation and stakeholder engagement are essential for sustainable improvements, ultimately leading to safer patient care and better health outcomes.

References

• Saint, S., Chenoweth, C., & Fakih, M. (2016). Implementation of Surveillance and Feedback Interventions to Reduce Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 37(2), 138-142.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). VA/CMS CAUTI Prevention Toolkit. CDC.
• National Healthcare Safety Network. (2020). Guidelines for Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections.
• Hoot, S. B., & Aronsky, D. (2016). Overcoming Barriers to Implementing Electronic Surveillance Systems. Journal of Healthcare Engineering, 7(3), 319-330.
• Guyatt, G. H., Oxman, A. D., & Schünemann, H. J. (2011). GRADE guidelines: 1. Introduction—Grade guidelines to improve transparency in rating the quality of evidence. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 64(4), 401–406.
• Lee, S. Y., & Kim, H. (2018). Enhancing Interoperability between Electronic Health Records and Surveillance Systems. JMIR Medical Informatics, 6(1), e10.
• World Health Organization. (2018). Improving Communication in Healthcare. WHO Publications.
• Johnson, J., & Mervis, J. (2020). Mobile Devices in Nursing Practice: Opportunities and Challenges. Nursing Management, 51(4), 20-27.
• ISO/IEC. (2017). Interoperability standards for healthcare systems. ISO Standards.
• Venkatesh, V., Thong, J. Y., & Xu, X. (2016). Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology: A Synthesis and the Road Ahead. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 17(5), 328–376.