Problem: Patients with craniofacial anomalies have multiple co-morbidities (e.g., pain, eating/swallowing difficulties, social acuities, visual depression) and numerous specialists at various facilities that can lead to unnecessarily high utilization of medical resources, higher costs with medical transportation and accommodations, and significant anxieties surrounding the multitude of specialty appointments.

ABSTRACT

Project Leads
Christopher Peabody, MD, MPH; Nicholas Stark, MD, MBA; James Hardy, MD

Executive Sponsor
Maria Raven, MD, MPH

Abstract: The spread of Clostridium Difficile (C. Diff) infections (CDI) in the hospital is an ongoing concern as C. Diff can significantly harm our patients, increase health care costs, and prolong patient hospitalization. In 2017, the CDC attributed an estimated $1 billion in health care costs related to CDI, with over 12,000 cases of death[1]. UCSF has policies in place to prevent the spread of infection, but are we doing enough?

COVID Update: As a general aside, we have been utilizing sleep promotion during the COVID epidemic to cluster care in the ICUs (minimizing dosing frequency, ensuring lab and medications administration are clustered together to minimize RN going in and out of the room, and minimized overnight interruptions for patients). We developed guidance for this in collaboration with critical care leadership and endocrinology leadership (given insulin monitoring is often frequent).

At UCSF Health Adult Inpatient, 27% of patient falls occur in or around toileting care activities in the patient rooms/bathrooms.  From a patient experience perspective, healthcare professionals feel compelled to listen to their patients and provide them with privacy during toileting when requested.  From a safety and liability perspective, patients need to be visible to healthcare workers during toileting for the patient as well as staff safety.  Falls can be traumatic for the patient and healthcare worker alike.  Not only can there be severe and lasting harm to the patient, but the health