Improving Physical Health Monitoring on an Inpatient Dementia Assessment Unit – a Quality Improvement Project

Abstract

Aims

Meadowview Ward is a dementia assessment unit based at Thurrock Community Hospital as part of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. Patients with advanced dementia are routinely admitted with significant physical comorbidities and, as such, robust physical health monitoring is required. Members of the nursing team felt that it would be helpful to formalise the approach to physical health monitoring in order to allow all members of the multidisciplinary team to be aware of the necessary requirements. It was decided to formulate a physical health monitoring prompt sheet to facilitate discussion regarding physical health during ward rounds.

Methods

A multidisciplinary discussion took place to identify the areas of monitoring which should be routinely highlighted in ward rounds. Items labelled as routine monitoring requirements were also listed. A prompt sheet was then devised which divided ward round discussion into nursing and medical feedback, with each section having specific areas for discussion (for example oral intake, recent blood results, any pending investigations). This included prompts for other staff groups including physiotherapists and occupational therapists. A section was also added regarding ongoing monitoring requirements, such as routine outpatient appointments and whether transport had been booked.

In order to assess the impact of the introduction of the prompt sheet a questionnaire was provided to members of the multidisciplinary team who regularly attend ward round. This assessed their perception of the quality of physical health monitoring both before and after the introduction of the prompt sheet, the impact of the sheet on ward rounds and whether they wished the intervention to continue.

Results

There was a significant increase in staff satisfaction with physical health monitoring on the ward (n=7, P = 0.0065). 100% of staff surveyed rated the introduction of the prompt sheet as “strongly helpful” and that they “strongly agree” the use of the prompt sheet should continue. An initial concern from the team had been the potential for the use of the sheet to delay ward rounds, however 57% of respondents reported no impact on ward round duration and 43% felt it strongly expedites assessments.

Conclusion

The introduction of the physical health monitoring prompt sheet has been widely perceived as a success within our multidisciplinary team. It has also demonstrated the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary approach to quality improvement projects, ensuring the wide variety of expertise within teams is utilised.