A proactive risk assessment by utilizing ‘Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis’ (HFMEA) for safe implementation of peripheral nerve catheters in pediatric patients

  • Tarun Bhalla Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio (USA)
  • Olamide O. Dairo Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio (USA)
  • David Martin Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio (USA)
  • Sharon Wrona Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio (USA)
  • Thomas Taghon Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio (USA)
  • Mike Fetzer Quality Management, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio (USA)
  • Joseph D. Tobias Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio (USA)
Keywords: Quality assurance, Pain, Pain catheters, Pediatric, Failure Modes

Abstract

Introduction: In 2011, Nationwide Children’s Hospital began using peripheral nerve catheters (PNC) to provide postoperative analgesia to patients undergoing select orthopedic and abdominal surgeries.  While PNCs provide a significant improvement in the quality of care that our patients receive, introducing this new technology and process within our hospital presents an inherent risk.

Methodology: In order to assure that our patients received the safest care, we assembled a multi-disciplinary team to complete a proactive risk assessment by utilizing Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (HFMEA). HFMEA was designed by the VA National Center for Patient Safety to identify potential failure modes within systems, and to study the consequences the failure modes have on customers.  The result of this process identified and evaluated 96 failure modes and therefore 19 specific interventions were developed and deployed.

Conclusion: The HFMEA process gives us confidence that new pain management techniques and their related processes can be safely and effectively implemented in order to provide the safest and highest quality care to our patients.

Key words: Failure Modes; Quality Assurance; Pain; Pain Catheters; Pediatric

Citation: Bhalla T, Dairo OO, Martin D, Wrona S, Fetzer M, Taghon T, Tobias JD. A proactive risk assessment by utilizing ‘Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis’ (HFMEA) for safe implementation of peripheral nerve catheters in pediatric patients. Anaesth Pain & Intensive Care 2014;18(1):21-24

Published
03-01-2021
How to Cite
Bhalla, T., Dairo, O. O., Martin, D., Wrona, S., Taghon, T., Fetzer, M., & Tobias, J. D. (2021). A proactive risk assessment by utilizing ‘Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis’ (HFMEA) for safe implementation of peripheral nerve catheters in pediatric patients. Anaesthesia, Pain & Intensive Care, 21-24. https://doi.org/10.35975/apic.v0i0.723
Section
Original Articles