DescriptionPurpose: The purpose of this performance improvement project is to implement an ICU diary program in the cardiovascular intensive care unit and assess its impact on communication, and patient safety including fall and length of stay. Methods: This performance improvement project used a survey approach to determine family member’s satisfaction with care in the ICU. Family members of patients meeting criteria were approached to participate in the project. Eight eligible family members of patients in the ICU were consented over a three-month period. One survey was returned. A statistical analysis was not completed due to low survey yield.
Results: During the project period there was a surge in the COVID omicron variant. This resulted in several months of suspended visitation in the organization. Visitation restrictions in the face of a global pandemic impacted the number of participants which may have contributed to the low survey yield.
Implication for practice Given the timeframe and the impact of a global pandemic the overall outcome of the project was unsuccessful in being able to assess the diary program’s impact on the data metrics selected. This was a small performance improvement project with a low yield, the project must be revisited when conditions are more appropriate to determine the impact if any on the identified metrics.