170 Are Templates the Future? a Comparison of Compliance with GIRFT Guidelines on Post-Operative Documentation for Hip Arthroplasty. (28th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hunt, A.; Kapoor, S.; Adegeye, S.; Patel, P.
• Is Part Of: British journal of surgery. Volume 109(2022)Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2022-02-28
• Subjects: Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.005
• DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znac039.101
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1323

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: Departmental audit cycle on post-operative documentation following hip arthroplasty in comparison with national 'Get It Right First Time' recommendations 2019. This project set out to review compliance with the new national GIRFT medical records standards and promote patient safety through improved documentation following the introduction of a post-operative template. Method: 50 hip arthroplasty post-operative notes from 2019 performed at ESHT were evaluated against all of the 24 criteria from Get It Right First-Time guidelines 2019. A post-operative template was introduced and a further 50 post-operative notes from 2020 were evaluated. Results: Following the introduction of the template, compliance against the 24 criteria improved by an average of 38%. The greatest improvement observed related to commenting on bone quality with a 71% increase in compliance following the introduction of the template. Certain criteria such as the named surgeon, implant stickers, wound closure, haemoglobin check, and weight-bearing status remained at 100% across both groups. Only one criterion, assistant grade, saw a decrease across the two groups with an 18% reduction in compliance. Conclusions: When utilised, the introduction of a post-operative template significantly increased compliance with respect to the GIRFT guidelines 2019. This is important given the ever-increasing litigation the NHS is subjected to and indeed is mentioned in the original GIRFT report. A significant limitation of this audit cycle was when surgeons opted to write the post-operative note free hand. A further period of education is suggested in order to increase the uptake of this and other post-operative templates.