Effect of standardized orders and provider education on head-of-bed positioning in mechanically ventilated patients.

Objective: Semirecumbent head-of-bed positioning in mechanically ventilated patients decreases the risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The purpose of this study was to determine whether the addition of a standardized order followed by the initiation of a provider education program would increase the frequency with which our patients were maintained in the semirecumbent position.

Design: Prospective, pre-, and postintervention observational study.