title: Collaboration: the pivotal point for quality patient outcomes.
abstract: The article describes a study designed to monitor the patency of heparin locks and intravenous (IV) lines of patients presenting to the cardiovascular department for diagnostic testing. Findings revealed that 60 percent of the invasive lines were nonpatent. Data analysis found that adverse patient outcomes may affect a small subset of patients and may not be reflected in overall hospital or unit trends. Recommendations included an evaluation of the current heparin lock/IV policy utilized to assess patency and increased emphasis on interdepartmental collaboration so as to prevent this adverse patient outcome.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Service, Robinson Memorial Hospital, Ravenna, OH, USA.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Gura
mesh_terms: D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D006334:Heart Function Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006744:Hospital Bed Capacity, 100 to 299; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000451:nursing; D015274:Interdepartmental Relations; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009511:New England; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin