Use of PDSA Cycles to Increase Aspiration Risk and Swallow Screening Documentation in the Hospitalized General Medical Patient Care Population.

Background: Aspiration, while hospitalized, can lead to increases in length of stay and health care costs. Nurses must identify patients at risk of aspiration early to initiate appropriate precautions.

Local Problem: An increase in-hospital patient aspirations at a Midwestern hospital prompted a review of events, which identified opportunities to improve identification of patients' risk factors and completion of the bedside swallow screening.