Postoperative Pneumonia Prevention Checklist Improves Provider Compliance and Patient Awareness of Previously Established Reduction Protocol

Abstract

Background: Postoperative pneumonia (PoPNA) is a highly prevalent complication in patients. Despite a previously successful protocol, this institution has become a high outlier on national metrics for PoPNA in the last four years. Methods: Between October 2020 and May 2021, patients were surveyed to measure 10 initiatives which have shown previous success. A provider-driven 10-item checklist was implemented and patients were resurveyed. Results: 135 patients were included: 96 pre-checklist and 39 post-checklist. Improvement was seen in all 10 categories. This included provider-driven initiatives, such as patient oral care, ambulation, frequency of patient being in chair, having incentive spirometer (IS) within reach, having information booklet within reach, and the patient’s ability to perform IS correctly, as well as patient awareness initiatives, including importance of oral care, cough and deep breathing, ambulation, and IS use. Conclusions: Implementation of a simple checklist can improve awareness and compliance with previously successful established protocols.