Participation in a mentored quality-improvement program for insulin pen safety: Opportunity to augment internal evaluation and share with peers

Abstract

Purpose. UF Health's participation in a mentored quality-improvemen impact program for health professionals as part of an ASHP initiative "Strategies for Ensuring the Safe Use of Insulin Pens in the Hospital"-i described Summary. ASHP invited hospitals to participate in its initiative at a tim when UF Health was evaluating the risks and benefits of insulin pen us due to external reports of safety concerns and making a commitment t continue insulin pen use and optimize safeguards. Improvement opportunitie in insulin pen best practices and staff education on insulin pe preparation and injection technique were identified and implemented. Th storage of insulin pens for patients with contact isolation precautions wa identified as a problem in certain patient care areas, and a practical solutio was devised. Other process improvements included implementatio of barcode medication administration, with scanning of insulin pens designate for specific patients to avoid inadvertent and intentional sharing o pens among multiple patients. Mentored calls with teams at other hospital conducted as part of the program provided the opportunity to shar experiences and solutions to improve insulin pen use Conclusion. Participating with a knowledgeable mentor and other hospita teams struggling with the same issues and concerns related to saf insulin pen use facilitated problem solving. Discussing challenges an sharing ideas for solutions to safety concerns with other hospitals identifie new process enhancements, which have the potential to improve th safety of insulin pen use at UF Health.