Quality indicators in respiratory therapy

Table 3 Some of the specific quality and safety indicators relevant to the department of respiratory therapy

No.	Name of indicator	Type	Dimension measured	Frequency of data collection
1	Availability of respiratory therapists in: (1) Acute care settings (ICUs and emergency departments); (2) Wards and outpatient departments; and (3) Pulmonary diagnostics department	Quality	Structure	Monthly
2	Inventory check/availability of calibrated equipment in: (1) Acute care settings (ICUs and emergency departments); and (2) Respiratory therapy departments	Quality	Structure	Monthly
3	Percentage of ventilator circuits changed as per guidelines	Quality	Process	Monthly
4	Percentage of heat and moisture exchange filters that were changed as per guidelines	Quality	Process	Monthly
5	Percentage of patients in adherence to VAP prevention bundle	Safety	Process	Monthly
6	Percentage of patients on semirecumbent posture during MV	Safety	Process	Monthly
7	Average number of routine and urgent respiratory therapy visits	Quality	Process	Monthly
8	Knowledge regarding clinical practice guidelines	Safety	Process	Monthly
9	Infection control practices	Safety	Process	Monthly
10	Patient and staff rights and responsibilities	Quality	Process	Monthly
11	Care plan indicators: (1) Assessment by respiratory therapists; (2) Reassessment by respiratory therapists; and (3) Respiratory care plan	Quality	Process	Monthly
12	Carrying out procedures related to: (1) Oxygen therapy; (2) Nebulization; (3) Humidification; (4) Bronchial hygiene; (5) Artificial airway; (6) Vascular access; (7) Noninvasive or invasive ventilation, and (8) Assistance in invasive procedures such as an arterial line, central line, and chest tube insertion, bronchoscopy, etc.	Safety	Process	Monthly
13	Percentage of patients successfully weaned off from invasive ventilation	Quality	Outcome	Monthly
14	Percentage of patients successfully weaned off from noninvasive ventilation	Quality	Outcome	Monthly
15	Successful spontaneous breathing trials leading to successful extubation	Quality	Outcome	Monthly
16	Percentage of patients intubated on first attempt	Safety	Outcome	Monthly
17	Percentage of patients who could not be intubated after multiple attempts	Safety	Outcome	Monthly
18	Percentage of patients who developed cardiac arrest during intubation	Safety	Outcome	Monthly
19	Percentage of accidental extubation	Safety	Outcome	Monthly
20	Rate of ventilator-associated events	Safety	Outcome	Monthly
21	Morbidity and mortality related to care infection indices (ventilator-associated infections)	Safety	Outcome	Monthly
22	Success and failure rates related to care (e.g., successful extubation, accidental extubation, reintubation rates)	Safety	Outcome	Monthly
23	Equipment and time utilization indices	Safety	Outcome	Monthly
24	Equipment down time	Safety	Outcome	Monthly
25	Patient safety incidents	Safety	Outcome	Monthly

ICU: Intensive care unit; MV: Mechanical ventilation; VAP: Ventilator-associated pneumonia.