AHRQ Study Provides Recommendations for Detecting and Removing Unnecessary Catheters

Martina

An AHRQ-funded study identified potential actions medical facilities can take to ensure the timely removal of urinary and vascular catheters, including providing clinicians with ready access to accurate catheter data, clearly defining staff responsibilities, utilizing effective tools to facilitate discussions and establishing standardized removal protocols. Observations and in-person interviews with physicians and nurses at a large, academically affiliated tertiary-care hospital provided a deeper understanding of the current challenges to timely catheter removal, allowing for recommendations to address barriers. Access the abstract of the article, published in the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.