Paediatric respiratory isolation: A challenge for a secondary care hospital! A service innovation project

Objective: The aim of this project was to broaden the secondary care hospital's scope of services and provide safe, effective and quality care for the patient presenting with measles. Methods: Six Sigma DMAIC [define measure, analyze, improve, and control (DMAIC)] methodology was used in this quality improvement project. The quality project was started in October 2015 using a Gantt chart quality tool. Results: The paediatric team with the support of administration of the hospital has established isolation rooms and devised a policy for the care and management of patient with airborne infection to avoid cross transmission. During six months period after establishment of isolation room there were sixty two suspected or confirmed measles cases who were admitted in our hospital, out of them only 4(6.4%) of patients were referred because of their sick condition and need of ventilator support. Further, the percentage of patient's satisfaction level also improved from 60 to 80%. Conclusion: After this clinical service innovation, there was significant reduction in referrals of measles patients to another hospital and consequently there was an increase in the patient's satisfaction.