AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES
Jean B. De Asis, MAN, BSN, RN, BSBio. Continuous Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, Armed Forces Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia
Jean Barrientos De Asis (jeandeasis07jed@gmail.com) is a registered nurse with licenses in the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and New York, USA. She possesses a bachelor’s degree in biology and nursing, along with a Master of Arts in nursing. Furthermore, she is a certified professional in healthcare quality and holds the esteemed designation of a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. In her current role as a nurse specialized in emergency nursing, she actively contributes to ensuring the alignment of patient safety and actively participates in quality improvement projects at the Armed Forces Hospitals Taif Region.
*Corresponding author
Abdulrahman Al Ghamdi, MD, Infectious Disease, Armed Forces Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia
Abdulrahman Al Ghamdi serves as a consultant in pediatric infectious diseases at the Armed Forces Hospitals Taif Region (AFHTR). He holds a leadership role in the outpatient parenteral antimicrobials therapy (OPAT) project program at AFHTR and is the chief of the local committee for the Saudi Pediatric Residency Program in the Western region. Additionally, he is the head of the Clinical Dietitian Department.
Muhammed H. Abid, MBBS, MHQS, EMBA, Continuous Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, Armed Forces Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia
Fellow and Mentor, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Muhammad Hasan Abid holds the role of regional head for Patient Experience and Continuous Quality Improvement at the Armed Forces Hospitals Taif Region (AFHTR). As a patient safety specialist, he is additionally recognized as an Institute for Healthcare Improvement Fellow and Mentor. He assumes a leadership position, ensuring the alignment of quality improvement and patient safety projects with the strategic goals for enhancing patient experience at AFHTR.
Jamal Al Nofeye, MBBS, EMBA, MHQS, Continuous Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, Armed Forces Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia
Jamal Al Nofeye currently holds the position of regional director for Continuous Quality Improvement and Patient Safety in the Taif Region, Saudi Arabia. He serves as a board member for the Taif Health Cluster. As a physician, he has earned dual master’s degrees, including an Executive Master of Business Administration (Honors) and a Master of Science in healthcare quality and safety from Harvard Medical School. Additionally, he is a certified project manager.
Reynan S. Bautista, BSN, RN, Continuous Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, Armed Forces Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia
Reynan Subahani Bautista is a licensed nurse and a dedicated member of the Continuous Quality Improvement and Patient Safety workforce. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in nursing in 2007 from Western Mindanao State University. Presently, he is actively working towards a master’s degree in nursing, specializing in nursing administration, at the Philippine Women’s University.
The Impact of Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) in Al Hada Armed Forces Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Background
In the realm of healthcare quality, outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) has emerged as the gold standard for managing patients who have transitioned from inpatient care but still require extended intravenous antimicrobial treatment. The adoption of OPAT at Al Hada Armed Forces Hospital in Taif, Saudi Arabia, not only bolsters patient satisfaction but also serves as a catalyst for reduced hospitalization durations, lower rates of emergency department readmissions, and an overall reduction in healthcare expenditures. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of OPAT in a tertiary center facility in Saudi Arabia.
Methods
In this retrospective investigation, we conducted a thorough review of patient records spanning from November 2020 to October 2021. Our study encompassed all patients who had intravenous antibiotics and were participants in the hospital’s OPAT program during this specific timeframe. Our primary goal was to achieve a 20% reduction in the total number of hospital bed days related to long-term antibiotic therapy.
Results
The incorporation of OPAT has yielded a multifaceted transformation within the hospital. Over the span of one year, from November 2020 to October 2021, there was a notable decrease in the proportion of patients requiring intravenous antibiotics. This percentage initially dropped from 23% to 12% with the implementation of the OPAT quality improvement project, and later, it reached an even lower 8%. This positive transformation not only had a positive impact on patient care but also led to significant cost savings, exceeding 2 million riyals. These savings were primarily driven by the reduction in hospitalization duration and the more efficient allocation of resources. Moreover, this improvement contributed to the avoidance of 673 patient days of hospitalization, thereby creating additional resources for more critical cases.
Conclusion
OPAT has emerged as a pivotal component of Al Hada Armed Forces Hospital’s commitment to elevating healthcare quality. This abstract offers a concise insight into the quality-driven impact of OPAT within a specific healthcare context, underlining its capacity to optimize patient care, enhance healthcare efficiency, and elevate resource allocation. Ongoing research and continuous evaluation will play a critical role in refining and expanding the OPAT program while preserving its quality-oriented perspective.
