Improving the diagnostic detection of thoracic aortic dissection in the Emergency Department

Summary

Recognising the profound impact of aortic dissection on loved ones and healthcare professionals, the team at Hull Royal Infirmary identified a critical need for improvement. As a result, the team has enhanced the diagnostic detection of aortic dissection by integrating Human Factors insights and leveraging the experiences of patients, earning them the 2023 Health Services Journal Patient Safety Award.

Hull Royal Infirmary's innovative approach has significantly improved aortic dissection diagnosis, reducing missed cases and enhancing patient outcomes.

Content

Key results:

• Zero Missed Diagnoses: Achieved 100% detection rate, up from previous 88%.
• Faster Diagnostics: Cut CT scan request time by over an hour.
• Higher Detection Rates: Detected cases increased nearly 4x.

The write up of this project is now available on the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust website. This includes information on:

• Moving beyond awareness
• Harnessing lived experiences
• Implementing a human factors approach
• Understanding complexity and team performance
• Building a high-performing Team
• Fostering psychological safety
• Embracing a just culture
• The case study
• Pre-hospital adaptation
• Patient experience
• Outcomes
• Next steps.

Further reading on the hub:

This year’s World Patient Safety Day on 17 September 2024 (WPSD 2024) is focused on the theme “Improving diagnosis for patient safety”. Find out more.