Lost BelongingsManagement Activity

Nia Edwards

Lost Belongings Issue

The facility was receiving many reports that patient belongings were missing, a lost belongings committee was formed to find the cause and to work towards reducing the amount of these reports

Staff Interviews

Many of the staff members were unaware of the current policy for keeping track of patient's property

The pre admission staff did not even discuss patients belongings with the patients

The patients belongings form was not discussed until the patient was received in pre-op

Patients items are put on a list, items go into a bag with the patient sticker, bag goes into a PACU locker

Staff Interviews cont.

Patients valuables are asked to be sent home, if patient wants them to stay, the items go to Security

Patient medications are sent to PharmacyAfter patient is in recovery and preparing to go the

floor, the patient belongings bag is removed from the locker, and placed on the patients gurney

When the patient arrives on the floor, the floor nurse checks the items, and lists them on the patient profile in EMR

Staff Interviews cont.

Many nurses were unable to locate the patients belongings list in the chart or on EMR

Patient belongings were not kept in appropriate places ( hearing aids in urine specimen containers)

Patient Interviews

Many patients are not aware of the policyThe patients were not asked to sign any

documentsIf a patient was discharged with items

missing, there is no indication of attempting to contact them to return their items

Research on the topic

On the top 10 list, of patient complaints, lost belongings is number 3. (Pronovost, 2015, pg 2).

Most common lost belongings are glasses, dentures and hearing aids. (Powers, 2003, pg 51).

Reducing lost belongings leads to decreases in cost. (DiGioia & Greenhouse, 2012, pg 1043).

Examine the current policy

There are two policies in place: Patient Valuable and Belongings and Jewelry and Body Piercing Jewelry

Nothing in the policy about using the Patient Profile on EMR

The hospital reimburses up to $500 on lost items

Comparison to other facilities

Examined policies at other facilities for comparison

Other facilities policies are more simpleOther facilities did not offer compensation

Propose changes to policy

Educate patients before surgery to leave valuables at home

Patients are contacted during preadmission and at preop doctor's appointment to leave valuables at home

Patient belongings list is completed during admission, the nurse will educate the patient on the policy and have the patient sign the form, the nurse will also sign the form

-The list has been modified so it can be reviewed in each area the patient goes to

-The hospital is not liable for missing items

Where do valuables go?

Patient valuables are placed in a valuables envelope, the patient signs it, the patient gets a copy, the other copy goes with Security into the safe

There is a separate form for jewelry that patient wishes to keep with them

Items kept at the bedside are labeled

Equipment: wheelchairs, braces, walkers & canes labeled with patient sticker

Glasses, hearing aids and dentures placed in designated cups with patient sticker

Medications

Medications from the patient that are ordered by the doctor will be given to Pharmacy

Home medications without an order will be placed in a patient medication envelope, and put into a night locker

Present changes in policy

Present the changes in the policy at the Performance Improvement meeting

Educate the staff on the change

Continue to monitor progress

As the change occurs, continue to interview staff

Follow up if any patient belongings become lost

Compare the amount of lost belongings before and after new policy

References

DiGioia, A.M. & Greenhouse, P.K. (2012) Care Experience-based Methodologies: Performance Improvement Roadmap to Value-driven Health Care. Clinical Orthopaedic and Related Research, 470: 1038-1045.

Powers, B.A. (Nov 2003) The Significance of Losing Things For Nursing Home Residents with Dementia and their Families. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 29(11): 43-52.

References cont.

Pronovost, P. (Oct 2015) The Patient Wish List. US News & World Report. Retrieved from http://health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/articles/2015/10/15/the-patient-wish-list