DNP alumna Allison Stubberud, Brett Morgan and Victoria Goode recently published an article entitled "Using the Electronic Medical Record to Improve Preoperative Identification of Patients at Risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea" in the Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing. Richard Moon was a co-author of this article. 

Abstract

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a breathing disorder found in surgical patients and associated with complications in the postoperative period. The implementation of a preoperative universal screening process using the STOP-BANG questionnaire to identify patients at high risk for OSA provides opportunities for improved management.

Design: A pre-post design was used to evaluate screening compliance rates.

Methods: This initiative included staff education, which included the process for evaluating and documenting STOP-BANG scores. The data were collected via a chart review of the electronic medical record (EMR).

Findings: The rate of screening for OSA doubled after implementation of this initiative, and compliance with STOP-BANG questionnaire screening was 66.1%. High-risk designation in the EMR was 73.0%. Nearly half of the patients screened were found to be at high risk for OSA.

Conclusions: Implementation of a universal screening initiative for patients and design for the EMR improves compliance with screening and identification of patients at high risk for OSA.