A quality improvement study for medical devices usage in an acute healthcare setting

Abstract

The objectives of this study were, for a large NHS Trust, to (1) Implement a medical devices training information system which connects the medical equipment inventory to the electronic staff record. (2) Monitor the changes in safety-related practice in the Trust after implementation (3) Examine the association between training compliance and Trust-wide adverse incident data for high risk medical devices. (4) Identify possible gaps in training course content from adverse incident data. A new system was made available, showing medical devices training records for staff in each location. Relevant staff members were trained on how to set up courses, record training, adjust training requirements and view reports. Training practice, compliance and adverse incidents for high-risk equipment were monitored over 30 months after implementation. Trends and changes in training practice were analysed. The Trust now has monitoring information on medical devices training available that had previously been absent. Training compliance increased from 23% to 59%. The frequency and severity of adverse incidents remained relatively constant throughout and was not associated with the increased uptake of training Trust-wide. Training gaps were identified. A Trust-wide system for recording medical devices training has provided training assurance. After implementation changes in practice with training have been identified. It was not possible to show a direct association between increased training compliance and reduced medical device-related incidents Trust-wide. There were specific training courses where changes in content could increase the safe use of medical devices.

Keywords:

• Medical devices
• human factors
• risk management
• patient safety
• information system

Disclosure statement

The NHS Trust which the authors are affiliated to benefits financially from any sales of MELVIS.