title: A go kit and a caddy: Airway management preparedness for patients who have a tracheostomy or a laryngectomy.
abstract: This paper describes quality improvement projects by three different multidisciplinary groups. The combined work from these groups addresses the staff's ability to provide safe, efficient, and expedient airway care during transport away from their home-base inpatient unit for patients who have a tracheostomy or a laryngectomy. The convened multidisciplinary project groups developed airway management algorithms, a "Go Kit," tracheostomy supply caddies, and a transportation communication check list. This paper further describes associated staff education with revised policies and procedures (DHMC Clinical Operations Policy Library 2005; 2006; 2007).
authors.affiliation: Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA.
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Truman
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arsenault
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Edson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000592:standards*; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014139:Tracheostomy; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States