Roger Bloomer1, Brian J Burns, Sandra Ware. 1. Greater Sydney Area Helicopter Emergency Medical Service, Ambulance Service of NSW, Sydney, NSW 2200, Australia. rogerbloomer@hotmail.com
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The quality of medical documentation is integral to audit, clinical governance, education, medico-legal aspects and continuity of patient care. This study aims to investigate the introduction of a dedicated 'Airway Registry Form' (ARF) on the quality of documentation in prehospital rapid sequence intubation. METHODS: A retrospective review and comparison of 96 cases predating the introduction of the ARF and 90 cases immediately following its introduction were performed. RESULTS: The introduction of the ARF yielded significant improvement in the recording of selected data points: difficult airway indicators (p<0.0001), Cormack-Lehane grade of laryngoscopy at first attempt (p<0.0001), documentation of confirmation of tracheal intubation with end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring (p=0.015) and recording of intubator's details (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study validates the use of a dedicated ARF for the improvement of documentation and data collection related to prehospital rapid sequence intubation when compared with post-event extraction of data from a generic case-record.
OBJECTIVE: The quality of medical documentation is integral to audit, clinical governance, education, medico-legal aspects and continuity of patient care. This study aims to investigate the introduction of a dedicated 'Airway Registry Form' (ARF) on the quality of documentation in prehospital rapid sequence intubation. METHODS: A retrospective review and comparison of 96 cases predating the introduction of the ARF and 90 cases immediately following its introduction were performed. RESULTS: The introduction of the ARF yielded significant improvement in the recording of selected data points: difficult airway indicators (p<0.0001), Cormack-Lehane grade of laryngoscopy at first attempt (p<0.0001), documentation of confirmation of tracheal intubation with end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring (p=0.015) and recording of intubator's details (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study validates the use of a dedicated ARF for the improvement of documentation and data collection related to prehospital rapid sequence intubation when compared with post-event extraction of data from a generic case-record.