Hypoglycemia Reduction Team at Wellstar Douglas Hospital
October 2024
Hypoglycemia Reduction Team
at Wellstar Douglas Hospital
Wellstar Douglas Hospital
Douglasville
,
GA
United States
Julie Lafontaine, MSN, RN, CNL, CPPS, CSSGB: CNL 3 North Acute Care
Victorine Moore, BSN, RN: Coordinator of Performance Improvement
LaQueisha Hamilton-Spates, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC: Clinical Nurse Practice Specialist
Lillian Turner, MSN, MEDSURG-BC, RN: Diabetes Educator
Tammy Law, MSN, RN, CNL: CNL 2 South
Brittany Salman, MSN, RN, CNL, PCCN: CNL 3 South
Victorine Moore, BSN, RN: Coordinator of Performance Improvement
LaQueisha Hamilton-Spates, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC: Clinical Nurse Practice Specialist
Lillian Turner, MSN, MEDSURG-BC, RN: Diabetes Educator
Tammy Law, MSN, RN, CNL: CNL 2 South
Brittany Salman, MSN, RN, CNL, PCCN: CNL 3 South
When reviewing the criteria for a DAISY Team Award and thinking about the amazing work that happens in the facility every day, you cannot ignore the hypoglycemia work that has been happening this year and what an amazing impact it has on our patients. This could not have happened without the interdisciplinary collaboration and support from the entire team led primarily by a clinical nurse leader and the RN quality team. In addition, collaboration with the pharmacy, nutrition services, and support staff have made this project successful.
Hypoglycemic events in the hospital may not be avoidable in all cases, but there are things we can do to mitigate the occurrence. If there’s a way, this team will find it! Initially, the team found that not all diabetic patients were receiving diabetic diets, so the clinical nurse leader partnered with nutrition services and the providers to ensure these at-risk patients were receiving the appropriate dietary orders. Another review found that it wasn’t necessarily a standard discussion during IDRs regarding patients at risk for hypoglycemic events. Partnering with unit leaders, and staff, the team created a standardized format for IDRs and discussing these risks.
As the work continues, other interventions have included “meals to meds” measuring how quickly patients are receiving their medications after their meals and point of care testing to insulin administration times. Prioritizing the timing of these interventions has proven highly successful in reducing hypoglycemic events.
This incredible work has led to a 50% reduction in hypoglycemic events as related to Vizient criteria for hospital onset events.
Hypoglycemic events in the hospital may not be avoidable in all cases, but there are things we can do to mitigate the occurrence. If there’s a way, this team will find it! Initially, the team found that not all diabetic patients were receiving diabetic diets, so the clinical nurse leader partnered with nutrition services and the providers to ensure these at-risk patients were receiving the appropriate dietary orders. Another review found that it wasn’t necessarily a standard discussion during IDRs regarding patients at risk for hypoglycemic events. Partnering with unit leaders, and staff, the team created a standardized format for IDRs and discussing these risks.
As the work continues, other interventions have included “meals to meds” measuring how quickly patients are receiving their medications after their meals and point of care testing to insulin administration times. Prioritizing the timing of these interventions has proven highly successful in reducing hypoglycemic events.
This incredible work has led to a 50% reduction in hypoglycemic events as related to Vizient criteria for hospital onset events.