Improving Care: Clinical Guideline Implementation to Reduce Urinary Tract Infections Treated by Antibiotics in Hospice Patients

Abstract

An opportunity existed to improve assessment, diagnosis, and management of hospice patients by integrating a clinical guideline to assist the provider and staff in decisions about appropriate healthcare that impacts the quality of life of patients at risk of bacterial urinary tract infections. The process started at admission and continued through patients’ death. The purpose of this project was to implement a clinical guideline to direct care that is respectful and responsive to individual patient’s needs and ensures that patient values guide all decisions within hospice care over a 6-month period. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) synergy model was used as the framework for implementation of this quality improvement project. Results demonstrated out of 314 patients admitted between October 27, 2020 to April 27, 2021 twenty-five urinary tract infections (UTIs) were treated with antibiotics.