VGH Spine unit gets back to basics

Staff on VGH’s spine unit have been working hard to tackle catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) and their work is paying off. Not only have they been able to reduce CAUTI rates, but they’ve found innovative solutions to get back to basics to  improve workflow and patient care.

It seemed like an uphill battle

At the beginning, reducing CAUTI on the unit seemed like an uphill battle. They knew their rates were higher than average, but they were also treating patients with spinal injuries who were more likely to be catheterized. In  May 2013 they began participating in the CAUTI initiative to see what they could do, and the results are surprising.

Breaking the problem down into small pieces

The CAUTI initiative helped them break the problem down into small pieces. It provided education sessions on best practices for catheter care, helped them analyze CAUTI data and brainstorm as a team to identify possible solutions. Within the first month, staff discovered a possible cause for CAUTI on their unit, the frequency of catheter care. The guidelines recommend that catheter care happen twice a day, but this wasn’t always possible with heavy workloads.

Making catheter care more efficient

They needed to find a way to provide catheter care more efficiently. After exploring their options, they introduced SAGE Clean Up Clothes that include a package of three cloths that are quicker to access for catheter care than the traditional basin method. The unit also invested in staff and patient education by purchasing a catheter trainer, an anatomy doll from waist to mid-thigh, they use to teach patients and staff proper catheterization techniques.

Getting back to basics

The most important change the spinal unit has made is to launch a “back-to-basics” program, highlighting the importance of basic patient hygiene. Getting back to basics and focusing on hygiene overall is something we know we’re supposed to do and making it happen helps patients feel better,” says Leanna Ritchie, clinical nurse educator. “Basic care cannot be forgotten even when you have all the other tasks to focus on.”

The numbers don’t lie…

As a result of their efforts, the spine unit saw a 50% decrease in CAUTI in the first month of the initiative and 100 per cent reduction in the first two weeks of June. CAUTI rates in the spine unit haven’t remained at zero, but the team has maintained significantly lower rates. Their “back to basics” approach is paying off in other areas. They were awarded the Hand Hygiene award in July and have been free of C.Diff infections for the last six months.

Learn more about the CAUTI initiative

Learn more about CAUTI intiatives happening across VCH.