Improving documentation of zoledronic acid interval in ambulatory oncology patients.

Authors

null

Tanvi Dandawate

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA

Organizations

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA

Research Funding

No funding received
None.

Background: Therapy plan orders for certain repetitive medications such as Zoledronic Acid do not always reflect the interval administered. This creates a patient safety risk as patients may get extra or fewer doses than required, a lack of clarity for pharmacy dispensing and nurses administering the medication and delays for patients while the orders are corrected. In a 3-month period, 30 safety reports of Zoledronic Acid therapy plan discrepancies were reported. Methods: Baseline data was determined using manual chart review of a sample of 50 patients, reviewing documentation of Zoledronic Acid interval in four fields in the chart. 58% of patients had an incorrect interval in therapy plan title and 12% of charts had discrepancies in other fields. In initiating this improvement project, we identified and engaged key stakeholders (nurses, providers, IT, patient safety and pharmacists) in DFCI oncology outpatient areas in a series of interactive meetings to share baseline data and use quality improvement tools (process mapping and impact-effort matrix) to identify solutions. In PDSA cycle 1, the options of Zoledronic Acid therapy plans were modified from having separate plans for each interval to a single therapy plan with options to select the interval. This was done with the goal of reducing the number of fields with the interval to reduce discrepancies in interval. In PDSA cycle 2, a team of pharmacists reviewed charts of patients who had an appointment with a provider and were on Zoledronic acid weekly, for 12 weeks. Charts with interval discrepancies were sent to the ordering provider for correction. This was done for two disease groups over a period of 6 months. Results: Post the completion of PDSA cycle 1, an analysis of 7165 dispenses showed that Zoledronic Acid therapy plans containing information apart from medication name in title decreased from 90% in 2019 to 0.4% in 2021. PDSA cycle 2 addressed discrepancies in another 126 patient charts, reducing the overall discrepancies from 12% to 7%. Conclusions: This project demonstrates multidisciplinary approach to identifying solutions to discrepancies around Zoledronic Acid intervals in patient charts has reduced this patient safety risk. The solutions implemented in PDSA cycle 1 was a system-based solution with a high impact. PDSA cycle 2 helped mitigate the safety risk further. Additional system-based solutions are essential in the long term to reduce documentation variability and improve quality and safety of care for patients receiving Zoledronic Acid.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2022 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B

Track

Palliative and Supportive Care,Technology and Innovation in Quality of Care,Quality, Safety, and Implementation Science

Sub Track

Patient Safety

Citation

J Clin Oncol 40, 2022 (suppl 28; abstr 323)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2022.40.28_suppl.323

Abstract #

323

Poster Bd #

C30

Abstract Disclosures

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