The Other Vital Sign: Bladder Scanning
Chief Nursing Officer/Vice President - NorthCrest Medical Center
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are the most common type of health-care associated infection. UTIs account for almost a third of infections reported by acute care hospitals. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) have been associated with increased morbidity, mortality, hospital cost, and length of stay. An estimated 17% to 69% of CAUTI may be preventable. The team made and developed the following goals: 1) Purchase a bladder scanner. 2) Develop a protocol and algorithm for the bladder scanner use. 3) Educate the medical and nursing staff on appropriate use of indwelling foley catheters. 4) Remove all 18 French catheters from stock. 5) Remove all catheters with balloons greater than 10ml from stock. NorthCrest has seen improvement in the CAUTI rate since the implementation of the protocol and algorithm for the bladder scanner and the implementation of the clinical organizational goals.
