But First, Breathe: STOP Pneumonia in It’s Track
Care Continuum
AIC Community Care Excellence Awards
Agency for Integrated Care - Intermediate and Long Term Care
31 December 2024
Reduce Pneumonia incidence rate per 1000-resident days by 30% over 3 years from Sept 2021 at SANHB. Regular monitoring of Pneumonia cases and maintaining high staff competency through training are key to ensuring long-term success.
Year Submitted: 2024
Published Date: 31 December 2024
Tags: Care Continuum, Intermediate and Long Term Care ＆ Community Care, Nursing Home Care, Preventive Care, Community Health
About this Content
Aims
Reduce Pneumonia incidence rate per 1000-resident days by 30% over 3 years from Sept 2021 at SANHB. Train over 75% of direct care staff in Pneumonia prevention and management.
Background
Pneumonia is the leading cause of hospitalization and death in nursing homes, and the second leading principal cause of death in Singapore. At SANHB, a 300-bed nursing home for psychiatric and dementia residents, 32 cases of Pneumonia were reported from January to June 2021, equating to an incidence rate of 0.6 per 1000-resident days.
Methods
SANHB collaborated with AIC’s Quality and Productivity Division and used an Ishikawa diagram and Pareto chart to identify key issues: lack of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), staff training, and care bundles. Training sessions were held every Sunday for 5 consecutive weeks per ward, starting with a pilot ward. Pneumonia risk assessment tools were implemented to screen high-risk residents.
Results
The Pneumonia incidence rate in the nursing home was reduced by 40.3%, from 0.6 cases per 1000-resident days to 0.33. 95% of staff were trained in Pneumonia prevention and management, exceeding the 75% target. 58% of residents received the Pneumococcal vaccine.
Conclusion
Regular monitoring of Pneumonia cases and maintaining high staff competency through training are key to ensuring long-term success. Pneumonia prevention bundles and standard procedures must be integrated into daily care practices.
Lessons Learnt
Sustaining the initiative requires ongoing risk assessments, continuous staff training, vaccine procurement, and development of new champions in each ward.
Keywords
Care Bundles, Risk Assessment Tool, Staff Training, Staff Competency, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Pneumonia Prevention and Management, Incidence Rate
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | Agency for Integrated Care - Intermediate and Long Term Care |
Organization(s) Involved | St. Andrew Nursing Home |
Platform(s) | AIC Community Care Excellence Awards |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Allied Health, Ancillary Care, Nursing, Medical |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Pulmonology, Respiratory Therapy, Medical Social Workers |
Project Lead(s) | Rainier A. Olendo |
Project Member(s) | Rommel Quimzon |
Connect with this contributor!
Estella Tan - estella_tan@sacs.org.sg
Project Attachment
39_SACH_CCEA_2024_But_First_Breathe_ST_P_Pneumonia_in_It_s_Track.pdf