Improving adherence to a mechanical ventilation weaning protocol for critically ill adults: outcomes after an implementation program.

Background: Despite multiple reminders, education sessions, and multidisciplinary team involvement, adherence to an evidence-based mechanical ventilation weaning protocol had been less than 1% in a general systems intensive care unit since implementation.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of using an implementation program, the Model for Accelerating Improvement, to improve adherence and clinical outcomes after restarting a mechanical ventilation weaning protocol in an adult general systems intensive care unit.

Methods: A prospective comparative design, before and after implementation of the Model for Accelerating Improvement, was used with a consecutive sample of 129 patients and 112 multidisciplinary team members.