* View the original project
** View The Lancet publication

Approach

Our project team introduced the project in all hospitals in The Netherlands. Once interested every hospital or deparement starts with the measurement of the number of incorrect IVs and catheters. The easiest way for care professionals to start is to check whether patients in the nursing ward(s) have an urinary catheter or IV and assess whether this is correct or incorrect.

Then they look where there is room for improvement, and set up a strategy to achieve such an improvement. Several strategies are possible and available:

• Organizing educational meetings for doctors and nurses
• Distribute posters and pocket cards
• Assign Local Clinical Leader(s)
• Making changes to the EPD
• Making local working arrangements (such as that infusions and catheters become a standard subject of the patient visit)
• Share results and ideas with other hospitals in a learning network

Progress

Until now (September 2022) 30 hospitals joined this intervention program. They share their efforts in a Learning network called ‘Better without a catheter’. In 2023 we will be able to present results from the participating hospitals.

Learn more?

If you are interested or have questions, please contact Eva Verkerk or Tijn Kool.