title: Reducing complications in trauma patients: use of a standardized quality improvement approach.
abstract: Injured patients are especially prone to developing complications. Using a multidisciplinary standardized approach to complication review is an effective method of evaluating quality improvement in patients on the trauma service. Collaboration between trauma surgeons and nurse clinicians is instrumental in improving the care of patients in each of the areas we identified. Using this consistently, quality improvement strategies can be put in place and tracked for outcomes. This has allowed for better quantification of the problem as well as any change that may result from applying this formal review process and subsequent intervention.
authors.affiliation: Trauma Services, North Memorial Medical Center, Robbinsdale, Minnesota, USA. patty.reicks@northmemorial.com
authors.forename: Patty
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reicks
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thorson
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Irwin
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Byrnes
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008910:Minnesota; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018024:Peer Review, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013041:Specialties, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D056164:Teaching Rounds / Q000458:organization & administration; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014194:Traumatology / Q000458:organization & administration; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*