Staff at the Ipswich Hospital Emergency Department (ED) realised there was an opportunity to standardise processes and streamline interdepartmental transfers, particularly for patients transferred form ED to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
ED clinicians place central venous catheters (CVCs) for critically unwell patients and commence inotropes via central line utilising a three-way extension set. Upon transfer into ICU, the three-way extension set is changed to an Alaris IV port manifold, primed, and new lines and inotrope infusions prepared and commenced.
This quality improvement project sought to guide clinicians through a poster in safely utilising and managing central venous catheters and thereby potentially reducing the risk of infection. ED clinicians place CVCs for critically unwell patients and commence inotropes via central line utilising a three-way extension set. Upon transfer into ICU, the three-way extension set is changed to an Alaris IV port manifold, primed and new lines ands inotrope infusions prepared and commenced.
