Intubation times

Unknown

Where does everyone pull intubation times from in the medical record? We have recently upgraded our EMR and Respiratory Therapy no longer documents on a paper form. We used to get our intubation and extubation times from that form. Our documentation is no longer as clear cut. Is there one specific place everyone pulls the intubation initiation time from to calculate the time on a ventilator?

sharon.cole

I try to only use the resp notes. Do your RTs use a flowsheet in the electronic record? Ours puts in "start" and "end" for us - they are the best RTs around!!

Sharon Cole, RN, CCDS
Case Management
254.751.4256
srcole@phn-waco.org

Unknown

Currently we do not have a spot in the electronic record for start and stop times....that would be ideal

sharon.cole

I asked them to have it added. IT was able to create another row and literally titled it "start/End"

Sharon Cole, RN, CCDS
Case Management
254.751.4256
srcole@phn-waco.org

lspryszak

With the transition to EHRs I think it's important for CDS to find out if the intubation and extubation times are calculated by the time "stamped" by the electronic record ore refer to the actual time of intubation and extubation. For example, if the record is "time-stamped" at 3:00 PM does that mean that's when the intervention occurred or when the note was entered by the person logging into the record? Someone's note might be timed for 3:00 PM and the patient was actually intubated (or extubated) earlier (or even later).

Just something to ponder.

Unknown

Exactly part of the problem we are seeing.

ctrygar

We go by resp therapist documentation, However if not present in chart we review nurses notes they usually document when patient was intubated or extubated

sharon.cole

Our RT's have to manually enter the information in so we go by the actual time.

Sharon Cole, RN, CCDS
Case Management
254.751.4256
srcole@phn-waco.org