Effective Collaboration Towards Positive Perioperative Outcomes for the Cardiac Surgery Patient: A Perioperative Services - Cardiac Surgery Performance Innovation Project

Abstract

Nurses in the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) Procedure Readiness Evaluation and Preparation (PREP) Center care for complex patients and support multiple surgical specialties, including cardiac surgery. Workflows related to cardiac surgery, specifically identification of blood type and antibodies (“blood banding”), presented a particular challenge for the clinic, and cardiac surgery patients were not always ready for the operating room (OR) on the day of surgery. PROJECT AIMS: To provide an efficient outpatient pre-operative 30-day blood band process in the PREP Center for the outpatient adult Cardiac Surgery patient. To establish a mutually beneficial internal work flow between UMMC Perioperative Services and Cardiac Surgery staff to minimize downstream OR delays.