SIG completes first year with a win!
The Philadelphia Chapter ARN won "best clinical poster" at the 37th Annual Educational Conference in Las Vegas this November. The SIG has been meeting since January to further our clinical knowlege in the area of urinary tract infections. We submitted a poster abstract to the conference committee. The abstract was accepted. The benefits and process for the SIG is described below.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are dedicated to enhancing professional development, advocating the standards of practice and defining a forum for multi-organizational collaboration and exchange in clinical practice. A SIG provides the following collaborative benefits:
● Specialty area task force
● Continuing education
● Product development
● Research opportunities
Met to review the elements of a SIG. Initially meetings reviewed many topics of interest but quickly looked at the urgent issue of urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to impending Medicare requirements. Recognizing Catheter Guidelines are well described by the CDC and the SIG members rarely care for patients with indwelling catheters, the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections was narrowed and identified as SIG topic.
● Reviewed Clinical Practice Guidelines and adopted American Academy of Neurology Guidelines as well defined and prescriptive
● Developed Clinical Question: What interventions are effective for the prevention and treatment of UTI in individuals with disability and are they based on current evidence?”
● After the poster was accepted as our SIG product, we expedited a project plan with a timeline
● Refined the term “individuals with disability” in our Clinical Question to include Stroke, TBI, SCI, Orthopedics, Geriatrics/dementia and Able Bodied individuals
● Identified inclusion and exclusion criteria for articles: peer reviewed articles from 2005 forward relevant to the clinical question
● Key terms were selected by each SIG member.
● Review of literature: Printed abstracts to share. Selected articles for review
● Identified rating tool based on Classifications of Evidence- Adopted a format to rate articles: “Patient Care Services Critique Worksheet” (Rosswum, & Larrabee, 1999)
● Reviewed articles using the Critique Worksheet and developed a grid identifying relevant treatment and prevention modalities for each disability group
● Classified the evidence
● Discussed common features for recommendations
● Brainstormed research issues
● Discussed poster design and designed poster
Anticipated activities being discussed in future committee meetings:
1. Coordinate regional full-day seminar on rehabilitation topics in Spring, 2012.
2. Special interest groups began in January 2011 with 9-12 participants. We have been meeting every other month. If interested in participating contact mmurphy@remed.com
Just what does a special interest group (SIG) do?
The special interest group is dedicated to enhancing professional development, advocating the standards of practice and defining a forum for interdisciplinary exchange in the field of rehabilitation. The GPC focuses on the areas of Brain injury, Spinal Cord injury and general rehab. We will hold meetings (conference calls) at least four times per year. The goal is to look at areas of advanced practice nursing, and develop a "product". A product might include a poster, position paper or may provide joint research opportunities.
When does the Committee meet?
Monthly to few times/year. Time varies—try to accommodate all members.
If interested, contact:
Call or e-mail either Sharon Harton or Mary Anne Saveoz.
Sharon Harton 610-551-2539 ©; sharton@remed.com
Mary Ann Saveoz 610-213-4745 ©; msaveoz@remed.com