Publications by authors named "Susannah P Ford"
Objective: A multicycle, quality improvement method was used to standardize nasal cannula O2 administration and weaning in the NICU.
Methods: A 2-armed nasal cannula standardized order form (nasal cannula for stable O2 arm and nasal cannula for stable flow arm) was developed after review of the literature, surveying of the practice of NICU physicians and nurse practitioners, and development of consensus among these providers. Outcomes were measured by tracking the distribution of protocol arm chosen, days on O2, weeks on nasal cannula, and disposition of infants who were supported by nasal cannula.
Objective: To reduce hyperoxia in very low birth weight infants who receive supplemental oxygen, the Children's Mercy Hospital neonatal respiratory quality improvement committee introduced the potentially better practice of oxygen saturation targeting and identified strategies to overcome barriers to implementation of this practice.
Methods: Using rapid-cycle quality improvement projects, this center adapted an oxygen saturation targeting protocol and tracked hourly oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry in very low birth weight infants who received supplemental oxygen.
Results: The percentage of time in the range of 90% to 94% of oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry increased from 20% to an average of 35% after implementation of the protocol.