title: Developing a standard of care for halo vest and pin site care including patient and family education: a collaborative approach among three greater Toronto area teaching hospitals.
abstract: Caring for an individual with a halo vest can be a frustrating and anxiety-provoking experience for healthcare professionals, the patient, and their families. Physicians or trained nurses apply halo vests in various situations in which cervical spine stabilization is required for an extended period. This device can be used as a first-line treatment in the management of nonoperative cervical trauma, that is, fractures, or placed following cervical surgery. Standardizing the application techniques and care associated with the halo vest, pin site care, and day-to-day activities of daily living will increase the comfort and self-confidence of healthcare professionals and the patient and family members in the provision of care. A collaborative approach among three greater Toronto area teaching hospitals aided in the development of standardizing care and patient educational materials for patients with halo vests.
authors.affiliation: Toronto Western Hospital, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. angela.sarro@uhn.on.ca
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarro
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anthony
authors.forename: Rosalie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Magtoto
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mauceri
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001858:Bone Nails / Q000009:adverse effects; D001915:Braces / Q000009:adverse effects; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D009864:Ontario; D016530:Orthopedic Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*