Physicians and Nurses Work Together to Eliminate Ventilator Associated Pneumonia
More than two years and counting!
The Raleigh Campus Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) has not had a patient develop ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in over two full years. That's quite an achievement for the unit, which treats more than 800 critically ill patients a year. According to MICU Manager Lou Ann McLamb, RN, a team approach to care on the unit has prevented many patients from developing this often deadly condition.
'We followed recommendations set forth by the IHI (Institute for Healthcare Improvement), along with some additional elements developed by nursing in June 2004. These interventions have helped get patients off the ventilator more quickly,' noted McLamb. 'According to IHI, an average of 15 percent of ventilated patients in the United States develop VAP, with a 46 percent mortality rate and a cost of $40,000 per patient.' The VAP Performance Improvement Team has engaged physicians, nurses and clinical staff with process.
Each day, intensivists work closely with the staff to ensure that the initiatives are followed for each patient. The daily rounds staff make with physicians have been particularly helpful. 'Each day, we round with nurses and members of the patient's treatment team, and we run through the critical care checklist to make sure that we're doing everything we can to deliver the best possible care to each patient,' explained Peter Heetderks, MD, intensivist, WakeMed Faculty Physicians. 'There is no question that this is an outstanding achievement. The extra steps that the nursing staff are taking with these patients are saving lives.'
