Eloy-Gotay, Nahomie. Improving blood culture sample volume in an emergency department: a quality improvement project. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-eg7y-8e34
DescriptionPurpose of Project: The project explored gaps in current practice affecting blood culture collection, and the impact on the accuracy of results in an Emergency Department in a Veterans Administration hospital. The quality improvement question developed to guide the project is: Will the accuracy of blood culture results improve after implementation of an evidence-based recommendation? Data was collected through staff observations and the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) to measure current practice to compare to postimplementation practice. Methodology: All chart reviews were retrospective and data was collected to identify variables in patients’ condition and common causes of inadequate blood sample collection. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: After implementation of the evidence-based recommendations, the results showed a significant improvement in blood culture sample volume and an increase in vertically positioned bottles during collection resulting in improved accuracy of results. Implications for practice: Improved confidence in diagnostic results and appropriate treatment selection.