Other Considerations and Metrics

Your team will likely embark on dozens of interventions. Examples of other metrics that can be used to track the success of these efforts include:

• Track the percentage of patients on insulin with on-time tray delivery.
  
• Audit the timing of subcutaneous insulin administration in relation to glucose level and nutrition delivery. Is there a need for change in the process design?
  
• Are there any attempts to measure carbohydrate intake among patients who are eating? Is there a way to link these data to orders for nutritional insulin?
  
• Survey your physicians and nurses on their satisfaction with order sets or protocols.
  
• Survey your physicians and nurses on their attitudes and beliefs about insulin administration, fear of hypoglycemia, and glycemic control in the hospital.
  
• Track patient satisfaction with their diabetes care in the hospital, including the education they received.
  
• Track nursing and physician education/certification in insulin prescribing, insulin administration, and other diabetes care issues.
  
• Track outcomes strongly associated with glycemic control (surgical wound infections, ICU LOS, catheter-related bloodstream infections).

View other useful data collection tools/forms for examples of tools used in these areas