SMH-Venice Physician Newsletter – June 2024

#1 Policy Update

ATTENTION:

Please click on the link below to review the updated policies for Affiliate Medical Students, and the new policy for Observers for physicians and Advanced Practice Professionals.

00.MD.06 Affiliate Medical Students Policy

Observer Policy

#2 Physician Hand Hygiene Data

In our ongoing efforts to keep our patients and staff safe, we monitor the hand hygiene compliance of our healthcare workers and physicians with a goal of 95% compliance. As you can see, physicians have an opportunity for improvement, particularly with Indications 1 (entering the patient zone) and 4 (leaving the patient zone). Please help us in our efforts to keep everyone as healthy as possible!

Physician Hand Hygiene Data

#3 Quality Newsletter – May 2024

Please click on the link below to access information regarding important information from the Quality Department.

May 2024 SMHCS Quality Department Newsletter

#4 Updated SMH-Venice Campus Directory Map

Please click the link below for information about the updated SMH-Venice campus directory map, which includes the new tower opening in April 2024.

2024 Unit Opening Informative Flyer

#5 Safety Alert – How and When to Contact Risk Management

Please click on the link below for details on how and when to contact Risk Management at SMH-Venice.

Safety Alert – Risk Management

#6 Hurricane Preparedness Helpful Information

Please click the link below for valuable information you can share with your patients and use as tips for the 2024 hurricane season in Florida.

Hurricane Preparedness Tips flyer

#7 Alcohol Beverages @ Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System

The Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Nutrition Support Committee have approved the removal of all alcoholic beverages from the hospital effective June 17, 2024. Patients will not be allowed to bring their own supplies.

SMH data: Data was reviewed by the committees. Over a one-year time period, 130 orders were placed by 64 different providers. Of these, 100 were ordered either as “once’ or “daily” suggesting that alcohol is being used as patient courtesy rather than to treat or prevent alcohol withdrawal. The majority of these orders were also in combination with other CNS depressants including benzodiazepines, opioids, methocarbamol, and levetiracetam. For example, one patient was ordered 2 beers with each meal at the same time as the Alcohol Withdrawal protocol and a diazepam taper 10mg q12h. Seven patients experienced falls prior to admission yet alcohol continued to be ordered as an inpatient.

Guidelines: The 2020 American Society of Addiction Medicine states “Oral or intravenous alcohol should not be used for the prevention or treatment of alcohol withdrawal.” The 2021 US Department of Veterans Affairs and DoD Clinical Practice Guideline on Management of Substance Use Disorders also recommends against the use of alcohol as an agent for medically supervised withdrawal stating no solid evidence exists to support this practice. Best practice recommends patients at risk of developing severe/complicated alcohol withdrawal or complications from alcohol withdrawal, and preventative pharmacotherapy should be provided with first-line treatment being benzodiazepines.

Decision: Due to safety concerns from the co-administration of sedating medications, the potential increased risk of falls, and the lack of guidelines supporting alcohol administration, the P&T Committee unanimously voted to eliminate alcoholic beverages for patient administration.

#8 SMH-Venice Upcoming Meetings

SMH-Venice Department Surgery – June 28, 2024, @ 7:00 am Webex & Venice Administrative Room
SMH-Venice Special Services Department – June 27, 2024 @ 8:30 am Webex only
Women & Children Services Department – July 23, 2024, @ 5:30 pm Webex & Venice Admin Room
SHM-V Department of Medicine – July 16, 2024 @ noon Webex and Venice Admin Conference

Thank you,
Scott Perrin, MD
Chief of Staff