Reducing unneccessary urine testing and treatment in Emergency Departments

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Creative team:
Lead Designer: Guillermina Noël
Jr. Designer: Saul Sych

Inappropriate use of antimicrobials for treating asymptomatic bacteriuria is a widespread issue in healthcare. Overuse of urine tests, including both urinalysis and urine cultures, as routine tests or for nonspecific symptoms, along with treating positive urine test results unnecessarily, leads to misuse of resources. This overuse can result in unnecessary antibiotic therapy with potential patient harm, including the development of bacterial resistance, adverse and allergic reactions to antibiotics, and promotion of serious infection.

Our team was recruited to explore the beliefs and processes followed by physicians and nurses regarding positive urine tests and the routine ordering of these tests. As we engaged with users we found a knowledge gap in understanding when to test the urine and that some tests were being sent “just in case”.

Together, we developed an algorithm to support a consistent testing process, aiming to reduce unnecessary urine testing and antibiotic use. Additionally, we created reference resources to aid healthcare providers in their decision-making process regarding urine testing.

Developing knowledge translation tools need to implement person-centred addiction care

Tue, 23 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Creative team:
Lead Designer: Guillermina Noël
Jr. Designer: Saul Sych

Addiction affects many Albertans, and is associated with a high burden of morbidity, mortality, and increased acute healthcare utilization. A significant proportion of people who use drugs and/or excessive alcohol also face social marginalization, in the form of unstable housing, low income, and deterioration in other important determinants of health and well-being. The Addiction Recovery Community Health (ARCH) initiative delivers person-centered, wraparound supports that meet patients where they are and espouses a harm reduction philosophy.

ARCH has had tremendous success in Edmonton and was looking share its approach so that compassionate, wraparound support would be available to patients across the province. To help the program scale up, we partnered with ARCH to create an implementation manual to be used by healthcare leadership in Alberta’s largest cities. With this manual we told ARCH’s story —what they did, how they did it, and most importantly, why they did it. The manual was created to invite others to adopt the unique approach, provide relationship-based care for patients at risk, and save lives. An online, interactive map was created to help healthcare providers find and connect patients with inner city services across all major cities in Alberta.

View the interactive map

Informtaion Design | Saulsberry

Reducing unneccessary urine testing and treatment in Emergency Departments

Developing knowledge translation tools need to implement person-centred addiction care