The NHS Safety Thermometer 10 Steps to Success Series! Step 4 Understanding the Definitions

Operational Definitions An operational definition is a definition that gives communicable meaning to a concept (such as a pressure ulcer or fall) by specifying how the concept is applied within a particular set of circumstances. ‘The true meaning of a term is to be found by observing what a man does with it, not what he says about it’, Percy Bridgeman (physicist)

Pressure Ulcer P.1 The proportion of patients with an OLD pressure ulcer (present on admission to your organisation or developed within 72 hours) documented following skin inspection P.2. The proportion of patients with a NEW pressure ulcer ( NOT present on admission to your organisation & developed after 72 hours ) documented following skin inspection P.3. The proportion of patients with ANY (new or old) pressure ulcer documented following skin inspection on the day of the survey (see ST guidance). Falls F.1. The proportion of patients with evidence of a fall in a care setting in the last 72 hours (incl. home if on a DN caseload) from discussion with the patient & review of clinical notes reviewed on the day of survey F.2. The proportion of patients with evidence of harm from a fall in a care setting in the last 72 hours incl. home if on a DN caseload) from discussion with the patient & review of clinical notes reviewed on the day of survey i. Each measure can be viewed by category (II-IV)ii. This measure can be viewed by harm severity Catheters & Urine Infection* C.1. The proportion of patients with an In dwelling urethral urinary catheter present on the day of survey or removed in the last 72 hours C.2. The proportion of patients with an In dwelling urethral urinary catheter also receiving treatment for a ANY urinary tract infection (on the basis of notes, clinical judgement and patient feedback) C.3. The proportion of patients with an In dwelling urethral urinary catheter also receiving treatment for a NEW urinary tract infection (on the basis of notes, clinical judgement and patient feedback) VTE * V.1 The proportion of patients with a documented VTE risk assessment V.2. The proportion of ‘at risk’ patients receiving appropriate prophylaxis (in accordance with local guidance) V.3.The proportion of patients receiving prescribed anticoagulation treatment (heparin, warfarin or equivalent) for treatment of a clinically documented VTE event. iii. This measure can also be viewed by OLD UTI iv. The proportion of patients (without catheters) being treated for UTI can be also be viewed v. Each measure can be viewed by category (DVT / PE / Other) vi. This measure can be viewed by OLD and NEW VTE.

Harm Free Care HFC 1: The proportion of patients without any documented evidence of a pressure ulcer, (ANY origin, category II-IV), harm from a fall in care in the last 72 hours, a urinary infection (in patients with urinary catheter) or new VTE (developed since admission to this organisation). HFC2. The proportion of patients without any documented evidence of a new pressure ulcer (developed at least 72 hours after admission to this care setting, category II-IV), harm from a fall in care in the last 72 hours, a new urinary infection in patients with urinary catheter (which has developed since admission to this care setting) or new VTE (developed since admission to this organisation). Harm Free Care HFC 1: The proportion of patients without documented evidence of any of the following P3, F2, C2 or V3. HFC 2: The proportion of patients without documented evidence of any of the following P2, F2, C3 or V3.

Next steps 1.Go to the NHS Safety thermometer & CQUIN guidance & familiarise yourself with the Operational definitions for all the measures 2.Learn what they are and what they are not 3.Discuss them with frontline teams that are using them 4.Clarify them 5.Discuss how they will be collected and any areas which need clarification 6.Use the NHS Safety Thermometer 7.Discuss the operational definitions in a de-briefing session 8.Identify any training issues for staff 9.Keep revisiting defintions until you are confident everyone understands how to collect and interpret data 10.Be clear about labelling graphs