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Showing results for tags 'Acute kidney injury'.
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News Article
County Durham and Darlington improves patient safety with AI
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has created and implemented an artificial intelligence (AI) model to protect patients from acute kidney injury (AKI). The trust’s AI-driven model helps healthcare staff to identify patients who are at risk from AKI and to swiftly respond with treatment. The technology uses risk stratification digital tools that staff are able to access through an app. These are combined with care processes developed at the trust and which involve a new specialist nurse team, preventive specialist intervention, assessment and follow-up. Its implementation at County Durham and Darlington has led to a reduction in both hospital-acquired and community AKI. Overall, the incidence of AKI within the trust fell from 6.5% between March and May 2020, to 3.8% during the same period in 2021. The most significant reduction was seen in hospital-acquired AKI – which fell by more than 80%. Jeremy Cundall, medical director for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and executive lead for the project, said: “The partnership has resulted in patients being detected earlier – preventing AKI from occurring or mitigating the worsening of existing AKI. Accordingly, patients have been more effectively triaged to the right pathways of care including referral and transfer to tertiary renal units where appropriate.” Claire Stocks, early detection, resuscitation and mortality lead nurse for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This work has been a project very much about using collaborative partnerships to enhance patient safety and quality. An idea that was developed in a ‘cupboard conversation’ is now a fully operational specialist nurse service. Utilising digital innovations supports rapid triage, early detection and treatment to improve outcomes.” In addition to the improvements in patient safety, the technology has delivered cost savings for the trust too. County Durham and Darlington saved more than £2million in direct costs from reductions in AKI incidence. The improved transfer of patients has also released ICU capacity, vital at a time when the NHS is dealing with a growing national backlog for elective surgery. Read full story Source: Digital Health, 27 July 2022 -
Content Article
AvMA case study - Evadney's story
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in Inquests
This case study summarises the story of Evadney Dawkins, a 77 year-old living in East London who died on 23 August 2018 as a result of treatment errors and poor care received at Newham University Hospital. Following a fall at home, Evadney was taken to the hospital on 22nd July 2018, where she was initially treated for a chest infection and fast atrial fibrillation (an irregular and abnormally fast heart rate). As she had other co-morbidities that included chronic renal failure, a treatment plan including renal monitoring was agreed, but the hospital failed to monitor her renal function and she sustained a profound acute kidney injury. Following intensive treatment, the acute kidney injury resolved but she sustained a cardiac arrest on 23rd August 2018 and died later that day. This case study outlines how Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA) helped Evadney's family convince the Coroner to open an inquest. The inquest found that there were ‘gross failures’ in the care provided to Evadney which led to her renal deterioration, including a failure in the frequency of blood tests, a failure in fluid monitoring and a failure to carry out renal ultrasound. The Coroner also criticised Bart's Health NHS Trust's systems of governance for not identifying for two years that Evadney’s case was a serious incident which required investigation. -
Content ArticleAs winter pressures combined with COVID-19 create more stress for the NHS, hospitals could look at reducing exacerbating factors such as acute kidney injury, says Dr Mark Ratnarajah, managing director, UK, of digital health company C2-Ai. A study by researchers at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, found that Acute Kidney Infection (AKI) was a significant factor for COVID-19 admissions to Intensive Care Units (ICU) and deaths. AKI was present in 31 per cent of Covid-19 hospital patients, and the condition was associated with 27 per cent of admissions to ICU. The findings also showed that more than twice the number of COVID-19 patients with AKI died, compared to those without it. As AKI can commonly be acquired in hospital, it would be beneficial to both patients and hospitals if clinicians are able to consider the likelihood of anyone contracting the condition. For this, an individualised risk-assessment of a patient is needed, rather than a generalised catch-all approach. Click on the link below to read the full article, published in the Journal of mHealth.
