Sustainability is defined as maintaining and improving the desired benefits of the program. This is achieved when the program becomes institutionalized and loses its separate identity. Device safety evaluation becomes part of the regular activities of all RPs and would be incorporated into their training and competencies. How would this be achieved?
- Educate faculty on the importance of device safety and risk.
- Incorporate education about device safety into resident training (yearly for all RPs).
- Incorporate the evaluation of device risk and need into the rounding process for all teams that involve RPs.
- Provide regular feedback to RPs and faculty on device use and device complications (at least quarterly).
- Collaborate to identify defects. Consider using the Learn From Defects tool from the CUSP Toolkit to assess where defects occur and to develop an action plan to correct them.
- Provide RPs with information on adverse outcomes associated with their placement of devices (e.g., a CLABSI after an RP places a CVC).
- Provide infection prevention orientation monthly for all RPs working in high-risk units (i.e., ICU).
- Encourage partnership of RPs with all other stakeholders regarding device safety.
- Implement a patient handoff to ensure continuity of care is maintained.
- Include a standard framework for communicating pertinent patient information.
