[AVBC 2025] Reducing Inappropriate Inpatient Blood Glucose Monitoring
4 December 2025
Project Categories
Care Process & Redesign
Platform
Appropriate & Value-based Care Conference
Cluster
National University Health System
The project aimed to adopt a multipronged approach involving doctors and nurses to reduce inappropriate POCT BGM, while. The project underscores the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration, structured education, and patient involvement in.
Year Submitted: 2025
Published Date: 04 December 2025
Tags: Care Process ＆ Redesign, Quality Improvement, Workflow Redesign, Cost Saving, Productivity
About this Content
Aims
The project aimed to adopt a multipronged approach involving doctors and nurses to reduce inappropriate POCT BGM, while monitoring for adverse effects of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.
Background
Blood glucose monitoring (BGM) is an essential component of patient care. However, unnecessary BGM can lead to increased healthcare cost, inefficient use of nursing time, and potential patient discomfort without significant clinical value.
Methods
The project was carried out in a single ward in Alexandra Hospital from December 2023 to July 2024 for General Medicine patients. It involved collaboration with the Division of Endocrinology to establish criteria for suitable patients and safe clinical guidelines. Root cause analysis was performed to identify factors contributing to inappropriate BGM, and targeted interventions were implemented, including educating doctors and nurses, using sticker reminders on COWs, and sending email reminders.
Results
BGM was reduced from an average of 49.5% to 9.2% over 7 months. There was no significant change in the adverse event rates of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, which remained mainly below 1.0% for both outcomes.
Conclusion
The project underscores the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration, structured education, and patient involvement in achieving meaningful quality improvements. It has been adopted by the National University Health System cluster as one of the Appropriate Care projects.
Lessons Learnt
The success of the interventions highlights the effectiveness of targeted education and regular reminders for both doctors and nurses in bridging knowledge gaps, empowering nurses, and improving coordination of care.
Keywords
Blood Glucose Monitoring, Nursing, Patient Care, Healthcare Cost, Clinical Guidelines
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | National University Health System |
Organization(s) Involved | Alexandra Hospital |
Platform(s) | Appropriate & Value-based Care Conference |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Nursing |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Endocrinology |
Project Lead(s) | Sophia Ng Shuen Yii |
Project Member(s) | Yan Ling Lai |
Connect with this contributor!
Sophia Ng Shuen Yii - sophia_ng625@hotmail.com
Project Attachment
498_NUHS_AVBC_2025_Reducing_Inappropriate_Inpatient_Blood_Glucose_Monitoring.pdf (opens in new tab)