CSI Summary
Available only to registered AACN.org users.
Project Topic:
Creating and implementing a standardized education program for preoperative isolated Coronary Bypass Graph (CABG) patients
Hospital, City and State:
Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
Unit:
Cardiosciences Intensive Care Unit (CSICU)
CSI Participants:
- Peter Buckstaff, MSN, BBA, RN, CNL
- Maddie Cranley, BSN, RN, CCRN
- Alyssa DiMarco, BSN, RN, CCRN
- Sydney Ford, BSN, RN
- Kellyn Schmitt, BSN, BBA, RN, CCRN
Project Goals/Objectives:
- Decrease the average Length of Stay (LOS) of isolated CABG patients 10%
Project Outcomes:
- Decreased the average LOS of isolated CABG patients 6%, 2.5 days
- This outcome created a potential annual savings of $12,805
Project Overview:
The project advanced through a series of defined milestones designed to ensure structured implementation and evaluation. Initial activities included the development of a comprehensive project plan and the delineation of team roles, followed by the creation of educational materials and the establishment of champions to support project dissemination. A formal kickoff event was executed with finalized educational resources, marking the official transition to implementation.
Implementation activities encompassed communication with champions, collaboration with the cardiovascular surgery team, and the initiation of data collection on isolated CABG patients. Ongoing phases focused on maintaining engagement through regular communication, process troubleshooting, and continued data collection. At the midpoint, data were analyzed and presented, providing formative evaluation of progress and identifying areas requiring adjustment. This stage also included reinvigoration of champions and targeted re-education of staff to reinforce project goals.
Later phases included presentations to external stakeholders, such as Magnet Site Auditors, sustained data collection, and preparatory work for final dissemination. Data collection was concluded, followed by comprehensive analysis and coordination with leadership to synthesize findings. The final phase emphasized sustainability planning, preparation of the concluding presentation, and dissemination through participation in an Innovation Conference.
Our project reduced LOS 2.5 days creating a potential annual fiscal savings of $2,805 with a 24% return on investment.
Permission to Reuse Materials
The materials associated with this AACN Clinical Scene Investigator (CSI) Academy project are the property of the participating hospital noted above, not AACN. Requests to use content contained in the CSI team’s summary, presentation or toolkit should be directed to the hospital. We suggest reaching out to the hospital’s Communications, Marketing or Nursing Education department for assistance.
Disclaimer
The AACN CSI Academy program supports change projects based on quality improvement methods. Although CSI teams seek to ensure linkage between their project and clinical/fiscal outcomes, data cannot be solely attributed to the project and are estimations of impact.