Ms Barsha Baral1, Mr Craig Aboltins1, Ms Elizabeth Kindred1
1Northern Health, Epping, Australia
Biography:
Barsha Baral is the Manager of Infection Prevention and Surveillance at Northern Health. With a strong background in infection prevention and control, Barsha has led numerous quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing patient safety and reducing healthcare-associated infections. Barsha is passionate about embedding evidence-based practices into everyday care.
Abstract:
Problem/Issue Identified:
Peripheral Intravenous Cannulas (PIVCs) are the most frequently performed procedure at Northern Health (NH), yet they are linked to preventable complications. A review identified key issues: misalignment between local policy and the Australian PIVC Clinical Care Standard, inconsistent EMR documentation between nursing and medical staff, and limited patient engagement.
What Was Done:
NH relaunched its PIVC improvement program, led by Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), and Quality teams, in collaboration with the clinical wards. Key strategies included:
– Aligning local policy with national standards
– Streamlining EMR workflows
– Enhancing patient education and involvement
– Avoiding unnecessary insertions and ensuring timely removal
– Implementing a difficult PIVC escalation pathway
– Introducing paediatric-specific guidelines
Educational activities included interactive workshops, visual aids, and Q&A sessions. PIVC compliance was audited three times weekly, with monthly feedback to departments.
Results:
The program improved alignment with national standards, enhanced documentation consistency, and increased patient and staff engagement. It also led to a reduction in preventable complications, a decline in Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia rates, and improved insertion success. Data trends showed safer, more consistent PIVC management.
Conclusion:
The relaunch effectively addressed systemic and clinical challenges. A multidisciplinary, patient-centred approach supported sustainable improvements in practice and outcomes.
Lessons Learnt:
– Policy alignment ensures consistent care.
– Integrated EMR workflows improve documentation.
– Patient engagement enhances safety.
– Collaboration from ward level to executive leadership is critical for success.
– Ongoing auditing and feedback drive improvement.