Authors (including presenting author) :
Lai BK(1), So KN(1), Ho LK(1), Wong WM(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Medicine, Haven of Hope Hospital
Introduction :
As wound management advance, diverse wound dressing products are introduced to our unit for better wound care management. Further, the supply of these wound dressing material may vary. Besides, the storage method and utilization of these dressing products range differently among nurses.
For example, some nurses may keep the opened dressing material in the original package in order to preserve the material for future use. However, some may discard the remaining material to prevent the risk of contamination. As a result, wastage of material increased since not all nurses follow the same practice and they may discard all remaining material after use. Consequently, the demand for material would exaggerate as the wastage increase and supply limited.
In order to overcome the deprivation of the aforesaid divergence on storage and utilization of wound dressing material, we proposed strategies with reference of lean management concept in order to reduce wastage, promote standardization and ultimately maximizing the cost effectiveness of wound care management within the unit.
Objectives :
To propose a unit guideline for wound dressing material storage
To reduce the wastage of wound dressing material within the unit
To improve the cost and treatment effectiveness of wound dressing within the unit
Methodology :
A Preliminary assessment will be performed to acknowledge different practice of wound dressing material storage by open-end questionnaire. Environmental Modification and briefing of the program will then be commence afterward.
Recommended interventions
1) categorized wound dressing material as ward stock or specific dressing (non-ward stock);
2) store and group opened ward stock dressing material in corresponding plastic bags with original package (sealed with tape);
3) store the material only in the Team Box or the Opened Dressing Material storage box;
4) use the opened material first before opening new material;
5) store the opened specific dressing material in plastic bags with patient label attached and put them in the Team box;
6) keep only the material which correspond with updated treatment regime inside the labelled bag;
7) take minimal amount of material into the isolation room only in case of providing wound care for patients under isolation;
8) prepare the required quantity of dressing material well before performing wound care for patients.
Result & Outcome :
Measurement of Success
- Amount of unused disposal of wound dressing material
- Monitor wound dressing material demand
- Compliance to proposed guideline for storage of dressing material
- Compliance to specific wound care prescription
