The frequency and nature of barriers to escalation of care in two Australian teaching hospitals.

Background: Nurses and junior doctors are often the first clinicians to recognise signs of deterioration in patients. However, there can be barriers to having conversations about escalation of care.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to study the frequency and nature of barriers encountered during discussions related to escalation of care for deteriorating hospitalised patients.

Clinical documentation requirements for the accurate coding of hospital-acquired urinary tract infections in Australia.

Aims We evaluated the accuracy of medical coders in distinguishing the aetiology of urinary tract infection according to clinical documentation. Methods The clinical documentation of patients coded as having had a hospital-acquired urinary tract infection from January to June 2020 at two Melbourne hospitals were assessed for community or hospital acquisition. Results We found that 48.

Frequency and nature of medical emergency team afferent limb failure in patients with documented vital sign abnormalities: A retrospective point prevalence study.

Background: Medical emergency team (MET) afferent limb failure is the presence of MET triggers and the absence of a documented MET call.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to measure and understand the frequency and nature of MET afferent limb failure in patients with documented vital sign abnormalities in an Australian major teaching hospital.

Methods: A retrospective point prevalence study was conducted at a 600-bed teaching hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Post resuscitation management of cardiac arrest patients in the critical care environment: A retrospective audit of compliance with evidence based guidelines.

Background: There is a clear relationship between evidence-based post resuscitation care and survival and functional status at hospital discharge. The Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) recommends protocol driven care to enhance chance of survival following cardiac arrest. Healthcare providers have an obligation to ensure protocol driven post resuscitation care is timely and evidence based.

A national survey of Australian Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Liaison Nurse (LN) services.

Background: The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Liaison Nurses (LNs) emerged as a member of the multidisciplinary team to: assist in the transition of patients from ICU to the ward, respond to the deteriorating patient in an appropriate and timely manner, and in some instances act as an integral member of Rapid Response Teams (RRT).

Purpose: To identify the common core aspects and diversity within the ICU LN role across Australia and to determine whether the ICU LN hours of operation and the participation in MET teams has any impact on the activities undertaken by the ICU LN.

Method: This descriptive survey of 152 Australian ICUs was conducted in April 2010.

The impact of an ICU liaison nurse service on patient outcomes.

Objective: To determine the effect an intensive care unit liaison nurse service had on ICU patient discharges, readmissions and outcomes.

Methods: We evaluated the impact of our ICU liaison nurse service in a 36-month before-and-after study on ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS) and mortality, and ICU step-down days (time spent in ICU in a 1 : 2 nurse to patient ratio).

Results: There was a 13% increase in patient throughput after the introduction of the ICU liaison nurse service (835 ICU admissions in the 18 months before v 943 in the 18 months after).