Continuous Quality Improvement for Post-Renal Transplantation Patients

Pei-Shan HoTaiwan Speaker Continuous Quality Improvement for Post-Renal Transplantation PatientsUnplanned hospital readmission after kidney transplantation is a significant challenge affecting patient prognosis and the quality of medical care. Data indicate that from April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018, the unplanned readmission rate within 30 days of kidney transplantation was as high as 33%. The primary reasons for readmission included: urinary tract infection (40%), abnormal renal function (20%), abnormal liver function (20%), and abnormal drug levels (20%). Analysis of personnel factors revealed that patient-side issues contributed, such as poor fluid intake, poor hygiene habits, poor medication compliance, and unclear dietary concepts. Additionally, from the perspective of both patients and nurses, there was too much information provided and a lack of educational tools. Although the educational content was comprehensive, it lacked intuitiveness and focus, making it difficult for patients to remember and learn, leading to quick forgetting of what was learned. These issues were also identified as workflow design problems. To address these challenges, the project implemented several countermeasures: •Improved care skills: This involved guiding patients to learn the correct concept of drinking water and utilizing QR Codes to assist with health education. •Optimized educational tools: This included the development of tabletop games and the provision of practical aids such as specialized water bottles and medicine boxes. •Introduction of a checklist. •Strengthened interprofessional collaboration: As part of discharge planning, a nutritionist joined the patient care on postoperative day 7, and a pharmacist provided discharge education 3 days before discharge. These multi-faceted quality improvement measures have effectively resolved the issue of unplanned readmissions among post-renal transplantation patients, significantly enhancing patient care quality and prognosis. These improved measures continue to be applied in clinical practice.