Implementing Emergency Bedside Backpacks in the NICU to Improve Patient Outcomes

Abstract Planning for a disaster, by implementing a unit specific disaster plan, has become an essential recommendation for Neonatal Intensive Care Units. Emergent situations have resulted from past natural disasters proving the need for additional planning when it comes to units with fragile populations. Research has shown instituting a specialized disaster plan, increases patient safety resulting in improved patient outcomes. This prospectus aims to implement emergency bedside backpacks as the first step in the development of a NICU specific disaster plan. These backpacks are meant to be an addition to the current hospital emergency plan, with the goal being to have similar success as other facilities that already have them in use. Our unit’s past experience with an evacuation demonstrated the need for additional disaster planning to improve our patient’s safety, staff coordination, and communication. Data was conducted via a SWOT analysis, and a fishbone diagram was created to determine what steps needed improvement. A Gantt chart was formulated to provide an anticipated time guideline, and process mapping was then completed to act as another planning guideline. A survey of the staff showed conflicting knowledge of what the current emergency protocol entails indicating a need for further disaster training. The prospected outcome is that this will be a successful, cost-effective project that will garner approval from all of the required hospital administration members, and become a standardized protocol