Cynthia has been the leader in DPU’s project of introducing the recurring encounter for DPU patients receiving infusions. Cynthia led this project in addition to taking care of her patients and often acting as the charge nurse.
Patients often waited for long periods of time in the unit for infusions due to the unavailability of physicians to enter the medication in the system. Patients became frustrated and dissatisfied with the service they received in our hospital.
Cynthia contacted Nursing Informatics to get information regarding the process of entering medications under recurring encounters. Peter Rufon from Nursing Informatics was able to provide Cynthia with a handout giving step by step instructions to enter recurring encounters.
Cynthia then began to partner with physicians and informed them about the advantages of the recurring encounter. She helped them to navigate the ICIS system in order to enter the medications.
The result has been less waiting time for the patients with greater patient satisfaction. Physicians time is also saved as they do not need to enter medications daily. DPU is able to accommodate more patients as beds can be recycled due to shorter length of stay.