Ross Baker

Evaluation of a preoperative team briefing: a new communication routine results in improved clinical practice

Background Suboptimal communication within healthcare teams can lead to adverse patient outcomes. Team briefings were previously associated with improved communication patterns, and we assessed the impact of briefings on clinical practice. To quantify the impact of the preoperative team briefing on direct patient care, we studied the timing of preoperative antibiotic administration as compared to accepted treatment guidelines. Study design A retrospective pre-intervention/post-intervention study design assessed the impact of a checklist-guided preoperative team briefing on prophylactic antibiotic administration timing in surgical cases (N=340 pre-intervention and N=340 post-intervention) across three institutions. χ2 Analyses were performed to determine whether there was a significant difference in timely antibiotic administration between the study phases. Results The process of collecting and analysing these data proved to be more complicated than expected due to great variability in documentation practices, both between study sites and between individual practitioners. In cases where the timing of antibiotics administration was documented unambiguously in the chart (n=259 pre-intervention and n=283 post-intervention), antibiotic prophylaxis was on time for 77.6% of cases in the pre-intervention phase of the study, and for 87.6% of cases in the post-intervention phase (p<0.01). Conclusions Use of a preoperative team checklist briefing was associated with improved physician compliance with antibiotic administration guidelines. Based on the results, recommendations to enhance timely antibiotic therapy are provided.

Using SBAR to improve communication in interprofessional rehabilitation teams

The link between poor communication and patient safety is well recognized in the healthcare community (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO), 2004; Sutcliffe et al....

Effect of trunk-restraint training on function and compensatory trunk, shoulder and elbow patterns during post-stroke reach: a systematic review

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the effect of trunk restraint (TR) training on post-stroke compensatory trunk movements during functional reach, and to identify functional gains of TR within the context of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Methods: Six databases were searched prior to 20 February 2013. Randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of a post-stroke reaching intervention with and without TR in the adult post-stroke population were included in this review. Data related to study inclusion/exclusion criteria, methodology, study participants and between-group outcomes (p < 0.05) were extracted. All outcomes were categorized according to functional domains defined within the ICF. Results: Five RCTs met the inclusion criteria. TR groups demonstrated significant between-group differences (p < 0.05) for decreased compensatory trunk displacement (4/5 RCTs), increased elbow extension (3/5 RCTs) and increased shoulder flexion (2/5 RCTs). All significant between-group differences fell within the Body Structure/Function domain of the ICF. Conclusions: Trunk restraint is a simple, cost-effective technique that may help to reduce compensatory trunk/shoulder/elbow movements in the post-stroke adult population. Synthesis of study outcomes also highlights applications of TR to clinical practice and areas for further research. Implications for Rehabilitation The ability to use the shoulder and elbow to perform functional reach is a primary goal in post-stroke recovery; however, compensatory trunk movements are often used to achieve the reaching goal. Long-term use of compensatory strategies may contribute to secondary impairments, such as learned non-use, joint contractures and pain. Trunk restraint enables functional reach practice, while limiting compensatory strategies in the moderately to severely impaired stroke population.

Approaching Etuaptmumk – introducing a consensus-based mixed method for health services research

With the recognized need for health systems’ improvements in the circumpolar and indigenous context, there has been a call to expand the research agenda across all sectors influencing wellness and to recognize academic and indigenous knowledge through the research process. Despite being recognized as a distinct body of knowledge in international forums and across indigenous groups, examples of methods and theories based on indigenous knowledge are not well documented in academic texts or peer-reviewed literature on health systems. This paper describes the use of a consensus-based, mixed method with indigenous knowledge by an experienced group of researchers and indigenous knowledge holders who collaborated on a study that explored indigenous values underlying health systems stewardship. The method is built on the principles of Etuaptmumk or two-eyed seeing, which aim to respond to and resolve the inherent conflicts between indigenous ways of knowing and the scientific inquiry that informs the evidence base in health care. Mixed methods’ frameworks appear to provide a framing suitable for research questions that require data from indigenous knowledge sources and western knowledge. The nominal consensus method, as a western paradigm, was found to be responsive to embedding of indigenous knowledge and allowed space to express multiple perspectives and reach consensus on the question at hand. Further utilization and critical evaluation of this mixed methodology with indigenous knowledge are required.

Timing of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis administration: Complexities of analysis

BackgroundThe timing of prophylactic antibiotic administration is a patient safety outcome that is recurrently tracked and reported. The interpretation of these data has important implications for patient safety practices. However, diverse data collection methods and approaches to analysis impede knowledge building in this field. This paper makes explicit several challenges to quantifying the timing of prophylactic antibiotics that we encountered during a recent study and offers a suggested protocol for resolving these challenges.ChallengesTwo clear challenges manifested during the data extraction process: the actual classification of antibiotic timing, and the additional complication of multiple antibiotic regimens with different timing classifications in a single case. A formalized protocol was developed for dealing with incomplete, ambiguous and unclear documentation. A hierarchical coding system was implemented for managing cases with multiple antibiotic regimens.InterpretationResearchers who are tracking prophylactic antibiotic timing as an outcome measure should be aware that documentation of antibiotic timing in the patient chart is frequently incomplete and unclear, and these inconsistencies should be accounted for in analyses. We have developed a systematic method for dealing with specific problematic patterns encountered in the data. We propose that the general adoption of a systematic approach to analysis of this type of data will allow for cross-study comparisons and ensure that interpretation of results is on the basis of timing practices rather than documentation practices.

Implementing Community Based Primary Healthcare for Older Adults with Complex Needs in Quebec, Ontario and New-Zealand: Describing Nine Cases

The aim of this paper is to set the foundation for subsequent empirical studies of the “Implementing models of primary care for older adults with complex needs” project, by introducing and presenting a brief descriptive comparison of the nine case studies in Quebec, Ontario and New Zealand. Each case is described based on key dimensions of Rainbow model of Valentijn and al (2013) with a focus on “meso level” integration. Meso level integration is represented by organizational and professional elements of the Rainbow Model, which are of particular interest in our nine case studies. Each of the three cases in Ontario and three in New Zealand are different and described separately. In Quebec, a local health services network model is presented across the three cases studied with variations in the way it is implemented. The three cases selected in the three jurisdictions under study were not chosen to be representative of wider practice within each country, but rather represent interesting and unique models of community-based primary healthcare integration. Similarities and variations in the integrated care models, context and dimension of integration offer insights regarding core component of integration of services, offering a foundational understanding of the cases on which future analysis will be based.

The value of a quality improvement project in promoting interprofessional collaboration

The teamwork that is required for interprofessional collaboration in healthcare is not an inherent attribute of the current system, and must be fostered. Education, training, and role modelling are important enablers. From our experience we posit that participating in a quality improvement project can be also be an excellent vehicle to promote interprofessional collaboration.

Neuromuscular Partitioning of Subscapularis Based on Intramuscular Nerve Distribution Patterns: Implications for Botulinum Toxin Injections

Subscapularis muscle spasticity is commonly treated with botulinum toxin injections; however, there are challenges in determining optimal injection sites within the muscle. The purpose of this study was to document the intramuscular innervation patterns of the subscapularis (1) to determine how the muscle is neuromuscularly partitioned and (2) to identify a strategy for botulinum toxin injection based on neuromuscular partitioning. In 50 formalin-embalmed cadaveric specimens, the extramuscular and intramuscular innervation was (1) serially dissected, digitized, and reconstructed in 3 dimensions (n=7); or (2) serially dissected and photographed (n=43). Intramuscular innervation patterns were compared among specimens to identify neuromuscular partitions. Variation was observed in the number (2-5) and origin of extramuscular nerve branches to the subscapularis. Despite variation in extramuscular innervation, the intramuscular innervation was consistent. Based on intramuscular innervation patterns, the subscapularis had 3 neuromuscular partitions (superior, middle, inferior) in 78% of specimens, and 2 partitions (superior, inferior) in 22% of specimens. The superior and middle partitions were most commonly innervated by branch(es) from the posterior cord, and the inferior partition by branch(es) from the axillary nerve. Injection of botulinum toxin into each partition may help to optimize results in the treatment of shoulder spasticity, and may be achieved by a combination of medial and inferior approaches. Clinical studies are required to determine whether the combination approach is more effective than any single approach and whether the number of partitions injected correlates with clinical outcomes.

The costs of developing, implementing, and operating a safety learning system in community practice.

Background The cost of implementing safety systems in primary care has not been examined. One type of safety system is a safety learning system (SLS). An SLS has 2 components: a reporting that monitors patient safety incidents and a learning component that facilitated the development and implementation of improvement strategies. It is important to understand the costs of an SLS to determine if the improvement program is financially sustainable. Objective To determine the costs of the development, implementation, and operation of the community-based SLS. Methods Nineteen participating family physician clinics in Calgary, Alberta, were included (15 urban and 4 rural) consisting of 47 physicians, 53 office staff, 18 nurses, and 6 clinic managers. Costs of the SLS were determined by the ingredient method using micro-costing. The costs were divided into 3 stages: development, implementation, and operational. Development costs were processes required to create and initiate the SLS. Implementation costs were accrued as a result of establishing, running, and refining the SLS. Finally, operational costs were those related to maintaining the SLS. Costs were further broken down into fixed, marginal, and in kind; this approach will allow policy and decision makers to apply the appropriate costs to their own settings. Results The total development, implementation, and operational costs for the SLS in Canadian dollars were

Three-dimensional assessment of the asymptomatic and post-stroke shoulder: intra-rater test–retest reliability and within-subject repeatability of the palpation and digitization approach

77,011,