From Door to Recovery: A Collaborative Approach to the Development of a Post–Cardiac Arrest Center

Abstract

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest remains common and, despite advances in resuscitation practices, continues to carry a high mortality that may be influenced by several factors, including where a patient is cared for after the cardiac arrest. Implementing a post–cardiac arrest care guideline for survivors of out-of-hospital and in-hospital cardiac arrest involves a multidisciplinary approach with short-term and long-term strategies. Physician and nursing leaders must work in synergy to guide the implementation of an evidence-based plan of care. A collaborative approach was used at a hospital to develop processes, build consensus for protocols, and provide support to staff and teams. A joint approach has allowed the hospital to move from traditional silos of individual departmental care to a continuum of patient-focused management after cardiac arrest. This care coordination is initiated in the emergency department and follows the patient through to discharge.

Use of a Nursing Checklist to Facilitate Implementation of Therapeutic Hypothermia After Cardiac Arrest

“…The implementation of institution-specific standardized protocols, order sets, and a bundled care approach have proven a successful method in combating the barriers to implementation of therapeutic hypothermia [14][15][16][17][18][19][20] and were associated with an increased efficiency in achieving target temperature. 21,22 The effectiveness of a surgical safety checklist on rates of postoperative death and complications was documented by Haynes et al, 23 who reported a decrease in death rate and complication rate after implementation of a checklist.…”