Distractions Away –To reduce % of Inappropriate distractions for Medication Nurses in Children’s Emergency (CE)
Care Process & Redesign
National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Medals
SingHealth
31 December 2024
Reduce inappropriate distractions for medication nurses in Children’s Emergency (CE) from 75% to 25% within 6 months. Creating a distraction-free zone improved patient safety and reduced errors.
Year Submitted: 2024
Published Date: 31 December 2024
Tags: Care Process & Redesign, Build Environment, Space Planning, Quality Improvement, Job Effectiveness
About this Content
Aims
Reduce inappropriate distractions for medication nurses in Children’s Emergency (CE) from 75% to 25% within 6 months.
Background
Medication nurses in CE handle an average of 390 medication administrations daily. High human traffic and frequent interruptions led to inefficiencies and increased risk of medication errors.
Methods
Redesignated Room 12 as a dedicated medication administration area, redesigned Passage 11 layout, and upskilled non-medical staff to handle caregiver queries.
Results
Inappropriate distractions reduced from 75% to 0%. The median number of distractions dropped from 4 to 0 every 15 minutes, saving 4,672 hours per year.
Conclusion
Creating a distraction-free zone improved patient safety and reduced errors. Future steps include monitoring sustainability and expanding solutions to other areas.
Lessons Learnt
Redesigning space and reducing cognitive load for nurses significantly improved efficiency and medication safety.
Keywords
Nursing Medication Administration, Children Emergency, Redesigning, Upskilling
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | SingHealth |
Organization(s) Involved | KK Women and Children Hospital |
Platform(s) | National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Medals |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Ancillary Care, Healthcare Administration, Nursing |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Healthcare Administrators |
Project Lead(s) | Andrea Hei Geok Mei |
Project Member(s) | Huang Weili |
Connect with this contributor!
Jeslyn Neo - Jeslyn.neo.ht@kkh.com.sg