In this section :
- Hospital harm is everyone’s concern
-
Hospital Harm Improvement Resource
- How to Use the Hospital Harm Measure for Improvement
- Learning from Harm
- General Patient Safety Quality Improvement and Measurement Resources
- Hypoglycemia: Introduction
- Aspiration Pneumonia: Introduction
- Delirium: Introduction
-
Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Introduction
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Discharge Abstract Database
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Importance to Patients and Families
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Measures
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Success Stories
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: References
- Medication Incidents: Introduction
- Obstetric Hemorrhage: Introduction
- Patient Trauma: Introduction
- Pneumonia: Introduction
- Pneumothorax: Introduction
-
Post Procedural Infections: Introduction
- Post Procedural Infections: Discharge Abstract Database
- Post Procedural Infections: Importance to Patients and Families
- Post Procedural Infections: Clinical and Systems Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Post Procedural Infections: Measures
- Post Procedural Infections: Success Stories
- Post Procedural Infections: References
- Pressure Ulcer: Introduction
- Sepsis: Introduction
- UTI: Introduction
- Venous Thromboembolism: Introduction
- Wound Disruption: Introduction
- Obstetric Trauma: Introduction
-
Procedure-Associated Shock: Introduction
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Discharge Abstract Database
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Importance to Patients and Families
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Clinical and System Review, Incident Analysis
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Measures
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Success Stories
- Procedure-Associated Shock: References
- Selected Serious Events: Introduction
-
Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Introduction
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Discharge Abstract Database
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Importance to Patients and Families
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Measures
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Success Stories
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: References
-
Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Introduction
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Discharge Abstract Database
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Importance to Patients and Families
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Measures
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Success Stories
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): References
-
Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Introduction
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Discharge Abstract Database
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Importance to Patients and Families
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Measures
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Success Stories
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): References
- Birth Trauma: Introduction
- Device Failure: Introduction
-
Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Introduction
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Discharge Abstract Database
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Importance to Patients and Families
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Surveillance, Outbreak Management
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Measures
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Success Stories
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: References
- Laceration: Introduction
- Retained Foreign Body: Introduction
-
Viral Gastroenteritis: Introduction
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Discharge Abstract Database
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Importance to Patients and Families
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Surveillance, Outbreak Management
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Measures
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Success Stories
- Viral Gastroenteritis: References
Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Success Stories
St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver BC
Physicians at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver recognized that hyperkalemia occurs in up to 10 per cent of hospitalized patients, and that although it is a life-threatening condition, there is little consistency in the management of high serum potassium. They conducted a quality improvement project aimed at increasing the proportion of hyperkalemia cases managed according to the best available evidence and reducing the cost of treatment. A pocket-sized guideline outlining the management of hyperkalemia according to the best available evidence was distributed to internal medicine residents. Cases of hyperkalemia occurring in a two-week period before the guideline was distributed (observational phase) were reviewed retrospectively and compared with cases occurring in two 2-week periods after the guideline was distributed (intervention phase). A review of paper charts and electronic health records indicated that before the intervention, hyperkalemia was managed according to the best available evidence in 63 per cent of cases. After the intervention, cases were managed according to the best available evidence in 94 per cent of cases. In addition, the overall cost incurred per case declined from $16.74 to $7.51.
In summary, providing residents with a user-friendly guideline for hyperkalemia increased the proportion of cases managed according to best available evidence and significantly reduced the cost associated with treatment. (Rajan et al. 2012)
Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance
