Practice Innovations
● Clinicians’ needs/desired features were identified through interviews. ● The module was developed with robust programming language. ● Module was implemented at a hospital-based Outpatient Wound/HBOT clinic: ○ Paper-based HBOT routine inspection log templates were converted into digital checklists, ○ Hyperbaric tender(HT) completed digital checklists daily, in addition to the usual manual logs for comparison ○ Manager monitored task completion through dashboard ○ HT and Manager questionnaire on the facility’s environment of safety before and 3 months after implementation
Background:
Safe provision of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a primary objective for any facility seeking care excellence. HBOT safety relies on a comprehensive preventative maintenance program, which includes routine HBOT chamber inspections. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society recommends maintenance/inspection logs for all hyperbaric equipment.(1) However, in practice such logs are often inconsistent and/or recorded on paper documents, which brings other challenges including lack of storage space, time-consuming record reviews, and lack of immediately actionable reports.To address these obstacles, we aimed to develop and implement a solution for HBOT facilities to easily standardize, track and document routine safety inspections.
Methods:
Method:
Using the design thinking methodology(2), the solution* was developed as a module within a clinical decision support web-application**, as follows:
Results:
Results:
The module helped standardize, track and document daily safety chamber checks through customized digital checklists assigned as recurring tasks and real-time actionable information.213 tasks were completed in 3 months. Pre/post-questionnaires revealed that compared to paper-based logs, digital checklists:
Discussion:
Conclusion:
A solution was developed for HBOT facilities to easily standardize, track and document routine safety inspections. Implementation resulted in significant time-savings compared to paper-based logs. In addition, the resulting accuracy in documentation and better understanding of accountability of responsibility may remarkably improve the environment of safety within hyperbaric programs.
Trademarked Items: Trademarked Items
* Task Management Module, Wound Reference, Inc., San Francisco, CA
** CliniPaths Clinical Decision Support Web-App, Wound Reference, Inc., San Francisco, CA
References: References
1. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. Clinical Hyperbaric Facility Accreditation Manual Fourth Edition. 2018;
2. Ferreira FK, Song EH, Gomes H, Garcia EB, Ferreira LM. New mindset in scientific method in the health field: Design Thinking. Clinics. 2015 Dec 10;70(12):770–2.