Authors (including presenting author) :
LAU CM(1), LAM Y(1), KWOK LH(1), TSE WT(1) , WONG LM(1), WONG SW(1), LEE MH(1), CHAN MK(1), NG LK(1)
Affiliation :
Department of Surgery(1), Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals
Introduction :
The role of Patient Care Assistants (PCAs) is increasingly valuable and critical to the healthcare team. They also have close interaction with patients on a daily basis. Due to COVID-19, PCAs are facing challenges on increased work demands, staff deployment and changing environment in an acute surgical unit, not to mention the 56% PCAs with less than 2 year experiences. They finally lead to worsen performance and hinder operation efficiency. Therefore, the “Smart PCA” Program is vital to enhance the staff morale and team performance, strengthen staff competence, as well as to improve operation efficiency.
Objectives :
1. To enhance professional knowledge, skills, and competence of PCAs 2. To strengthen communications skills among ward staff 3. To promote staff morale and teamwork 4. To improve patient and staff safety 5. To facilitate operation efficiency
Methodology :
1. Form a workgroup of representatives of different rank. (Oct, 2021) 2. Conduct literature and guidelines review. (Nov, 2021) 3. Discuss among ward staff and collect information for reviewing the ward routine and content of PCA education folder. (Dec, 2021) 4. Revise PCA education folder and ward routine. (Jan-Feb, 2022) 5. Design staff opinion survey for the program. (Feb, 2022) 6. Mandate PCAs to watch IANS e-learning videos for PCA (Smart Tips) (Mar–Nov, 2022) 7. Implement the program and provide training. (Mar–Nov, 2022) 8. Conduct PCA procedure audits. (Nov-Dec, 2022) 9. Collect staff opinion survey from ward staff. (Dec, 2022) 10. Evaluate the program. (Dec, 2022)
Result & Outcome :
Results
30 staff were interviewed after the program: 19 nurses, 9 supporting staff and 2 ward clerks.
100% staff agreed & strongly agreed that the “Smart PCA” Program helping PCAs to strengthen problem solving skills, increase staff awareness and avoid careless mistakes, have better understanding of patient situation and needs, improve operation efficiency, and strengthen communications skills among ward staff as well as enhance teamwork.
Audit results and findings
A total of 9 PCAs were observed with overall compliance 100% in 8 bedside procedures including donning and doffing of PPE, oral cleansing, IO documentation, turning, and patient transfers.
Conclusion
Results have shown that staff are welcome and react positively on the “Smart PCA” Program. It was implemented successfully from March to November 2022 with improvement on PCAs’ knowledge, skills and competence on patient care, communication skills and operation efficiency. It also demonstrated that a structured enhancement program for PCAs conducted by nurses could facilitate care delivery process, improve staff satisfaction resulting high quality of patient care. The program is continuing with on-going evaluation to ensure the patient safety and service quality in bedside care.
