Breakthrough change for adult cardiac surgery in a community-based cardiovascular program.

This article describes the use of rapid cycle improvement in a community hospital adult cardiac surgery program. The hospital participated in the Breakthrough Series: collaborative adult cardiac surgery sponsored by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI). As a result of this 1-year project, median length of stay for diagnosis-related groups 104 throug 108 was decreased 30 percent from 8.62 days to 6.0 days; percentage of patients extubated within 6 hours postoperatively rose from 5 percent to 75 percent; median cost per case declined $19 percent; and pain and anxiety, service, and satisfaction scores all improved. There was no adverse impact on the clinical indicators 30-day readmission rate, reintubation, return to operating room, and mortality.