Process improvement methods increase the efficiency, accuracy, and utility of a neurocritical care research repository.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Reliable and efficient data repositories are essential for the advancement of research in Neurocritical care. Various factors, such as the large volume of patients treated within the neuro ICU, their differing length and complexity of hospital stay, and the substantial amount of desired information can complicate the process of data collection.

Methods

We adapted the tools of process improvement to the data collection and database design of a research repository for a Neuroscience intensive care unit. By the Shewhart-Deming method, we implemented an iterative approach to improve the process of data collection for each element. After an initial design phase, we re-evaluated all data fields that were challenging or time-consuming to collect. We then applied root-cau

SUBMITTER: O'Connor S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3401358 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature