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HiQuiPs: Navigating Ethics in Quality Improvement

In Education & Quality Improvement, HiQuiPs by Samuel VaillancourtLeave a Comment

You have decided to start a quality improvement (QI) project on improving access to fascia iliaca nerve blocks for hip fractures in your emergency department (ED). You have also gathered an interdisciplinary team of experts within your ED to help you identify structure, process, outcome and balance measures to use in your QI project. But how can you ensure you collect your data ethically when executing this project? Welcome back to another HiQuiPs …

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Better Measurement in Quality Improvement

In Education & Quality Improvement, HiQuiPs by Samuel VaillancourtLeave a Comment

You are getting handover at the beginning of a shift in the emergency department (ED) and hear about a 71 year old woman who presented with a hip fracture. You’ve read about the benefits of nerve blocks for hip fractures, but still don’t feel prepared or supported to perform one. You text message a couple of colleagues and realize you are not alone. Others also understand that there are clear benefits, but don’t …

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COVID-19 Self-Management and Self-Isolation Patient Infographics

In Infographics, Medical Concepts by Samuel VaillancourtLeave a Comment

A 55 year-old primarily Punjabi-speaking man presents to the Emergency Department (ED) and describes a three day history of fever, cough, with five days of myalgia and general fatigue. He is not in acute distress, his vital signs are within normal limits, and he does not meet testing criteria for COVID-19. You suspect he could have COVID-19, and he is worried about infecting his wife. Your priority is to give him advice he …

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HiQuiPs: Quality Improvement Projects and Patient Reported Measures

In Education & Quality Improvement, HiQuiPs by Samuel VaillancourtLeave a Comment

You are about to start a Quality Improvement (QI) project in your ED. You have noted that clinicians are being interrupted frequently by patient questions about the ED process and non patient care related inquiries. You have read previously that emergency physicians were being interrupted an average of 9.7 times per hour and may result in a break in tasks, which may lead to negative patient safety implications.​1–3​ You have set up a …

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HiQuiPs: Preparation Part 1 – General Considerations for ED Quality Improvement Projects

In Education & Quality Improvement, HiQuiPs by Samuel VaillancourtLeave a Comment

You are in the middle of a busy night shift and you see a 73-year-old female with diffuse abdominal pain who is hemodynamically stable. You have a wide differential and order a CT scan to aid in the diagnosis as you begin empiric management. Three hours pass by and the CT has not been performed. This is the third time this week that this has happened.  In light of this, you feel strongly …