AED Placement in BRCN Abstract Measure Improve Define Control Student name(s) (listed alphabetically) Senior Leadership Change Project, Fall 2013 Abstract Measure Analyze Summary It was important to us that our project was implemented and would make a positive impact for the greatest amount of people. By placing an AED in the college, it is easily accessible to BRCN, Cancer Center, BH front lobby, BH parking lot, and BH cafeteria. To inform BRCN and BH community we have used three methods: For Your Education (FYE) Inside Blessing article Computer Based Learning (CBL) This project looked at the availability and access to cardiac defibrillation within Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing (BRCN). At the time of this project, any cardiac emergency occurring within the BRCN would require utilization of Blessing Hospital’s (BH) code blue system. Within this system, the closest defibrillator which is always accessible is located in the Emergency Department (ED). Due to the location of the BRCN in relation to the ED, it was determined it takes approximately 4-6 minutes to travel the distance. Our research indicates that each minute of delay beyond 3 minutes, before defibrillation occurs, reduces survival by 7-10%. Therefore, we are proposing the installation of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) within BRCN. BRCN is not within the recommended one minute time allegation for appropriate life-saving defibrillation. This was determined by group members calculating the response time from the closest accessible defibrillator located in the ED to BRCN. By timing ourselves, we found the average response time was approximately five minutes. Goals/Target For our change project we were on a mission to purchase an AED and implement plan. After a conference with the President of BRCN, the decision was made to place an AED at BRCN entrance. The next step in our plan was to contact Risk Management who also approved our plan for an AED. The last step is the placement of the AED. References Improve American Heart Association. (2012). Implementing an ED program. Retrieved from http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@ecc/documents/downloadable/ucm456455.pdf American Heart Association. (2000). ECC Guideline, Part 4: The automated external defibrillator. Circulation, 102 (suppl 1), 60-76. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.102 University of Chicago. (2012). Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Plan. Retrieved from http://safety.uchicago.edu/pp/emergency/aed.shtm Our first step will be to purchase an AED. The AED coordinator will be the Secretary of BRCN. Next step will be to educate the faculty and staff of BRCN and BH community. A group designee will make sure an AED has been purchased and implemented. Define After discovering no AED existed in BRCN, we began researching the importance of AED placement in non-clinical areas. Average response time to BRCN is approximately 5 minutes for the closest defibrillator (available 24 hours a day). According to the American Heart Association (AHA) survival rates after cardiac arrest decrease from 7% to 10% every minute that defibrillation is delayed. 2 Defibrillation within the first minute increases the survival rate as high as 90%. 2 Control THANK YOU! First name last name, title, department Through our work we were able to get our idea approved. We identified our implementation plan and will continue to follow up with BRCN to ensure an AED is purchased and placed. Hopefully, with the installment of an AED we will improve the safety of all who walk in the corridors of BRCN.