Cut Ketamine Dilution & Concentration Errors

Intervention: 

• Based on hospital ketamine inventory data, a multi-intervention collaboration with Pharmacy was developed to increase ease of access without compromising patient safety

• Planned interventions include:

• substitution to prefilled, prediluted ready-to-administer syringes in all studied locations

• decreased stock of 200 mg/20 mL and 500 mg/10mL vials

• maintained in the event of supply issues

• removal of all 500 mg/5mL vials

• The new prefilled ketamine syringe stock will be standardized across all procedural rooms

• improving provider satisfaction and decreasing burnout, a known predictor of medication administration errors

Outcomes: 

• Standardized placement of ketamine vials and substitution to prefilled-syringes leads to:

• Increased ease of access 

• Streamlined care

• Increased likelihood that ketamine will be used as a perioperative opioid-sparing pain adjunct

• Decreased peri and post-operative opioid use

• Improved postoperative pain control

• Increased patient and provider satisfaction 

• Patient safety is addressed by minimizing opportunity for human error, specifically within an academic environment