PATIENT SAFETY AND DAY OF ADMISSION: ANALYSIS AND IMPROVEMENT OPTIONS

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    PATIENT SAFETY AND DAY OF ADMISSION: ANALYSIS AND IMPROVEMENT OPTIONS

  • IRAS ID

    159636

  • Contact name

    Marianna Frangeskou

  • Contact email

    mf478@bath.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Bath

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 4 months, 8 days

  • Research summary

    Studies in the UK and overseas have suggested there is a greater risk of mortality associated with hospital weekend admissions. Although there is sufficient literature demonstrating the evidence of off-hours effect, the number of the studies which actually studied the effect of these causal factors on patients’ outcome is limited.
    The research will take place at the Royal United Hospital of Bath. Its overall aim is to investigate the causes of the significant additional risks associated with hospitalization on certain days of the week in two areas of hospital care; acute stroke unit and general emergency surgery. Through this we aim to develop and evaluate innovative methodological approach in conducting QI initiatives, supported with simulation modelling informed with the theory of organizational routines.
    The study design of this research will take the form of a quality improvement (QI) case study which will be divided in two phases. In the first phase we will conduct two supported Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) QI initiatives with simulation and the theory of organizational routines, PDSimA. In the second phase we will evaluate these novel QI case studies in terms of their practicability and efficiency from both modellers and healthcare stakeholders’ perspective. To conduct the study we will use both quantitative and qualitative research techniques, including data analysis, shadowing clinicians, observing clinical meetings, and process mapping.
    This research will generate novel conceptual insight and practical impact on healthcare systems and health outcomes. The findings of this research will contribute to the advancement of the development process of simulation model in support of QI initiatives. Moreover, investigating healthcare process for the analysis the “off-hours effect” and develop simulation model for its improvement will allow the researchers to make suggestions for the improvement of “off-hours effect” and make theoretically informed generalizations about performance of routines in healthcare sector.

  • REC name

    South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    15/SW/0256

  • Date of REC Opinion

    17 Sep 2015

  • REC opinion

    Unfavourable Opinion