title: A process improvement project: achieving quality outcomes.
abstract: The University of Virginia Health System designed a systematic approach to the care of the long-term, mechanically ventilated, adult patient population to improve patient outcomes and use institutional resources more efficiently. The authors discuss their process improvement strategies, barriers to implementation, and project outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Acute and Specialty Care, APN2, Medicine/MICU, School of Nursing, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. tpb@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bleck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019091:Critical Pathways; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007324:Institutional Management Teams; D008134:Long-Term Care; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000451:nursing*; D014768:Virginia