Presentations 2020: Special Care

431 - Quality improvement: Administration of glucose to emergency access patients in the Community Dental Service

JR Joseph
Presented by: Julian Joseph
Community Dental Service CwmTaf

Introduction: Quality improvement is a framework through which the aim is to improve the way care is delivered to patients, via the use of systematic methods and strategies. It was noticed by previous dental core trainees and dental nurses that glucose was being administered to emergency patients more frequently than registered patients. Since the administration of local anaesthetic can lead to light headedness and faints, dental professionals must make sure that the patient has eaten. The patients attending the emergency appointments are often nervous and have forgotten to eat, therefore we have to administer glucose to the patient. Aim statement: To reduce the administration of glucose in emergency patients from 85% to 40% from March 2019 to June 2019 Methodology: Using plan, do, study and act cycle; data was collected over all surgeries in Kier Hardie Health park over March and April. The change of contacting Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board to give further nutritional advice prior to the patient attending the emergency appointment was implemented. Further data was collected for May and June. Results: Overall this was a successful quality improvement project and the aim was met with a significant reduction in the administration of glucose given with an average of 17%. This has improved 4 of the good healthcare components; safety, efficiency, time management and patient centred. Using stakeholder analysis, driver diagrams and SWOT analysis it shows overall good sustainability.
Consent Statement: There are no details on individual patients reported within the abstract.

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