Impact of improvement efforts on glycemic control and hypoglycemia at a university medical center

BACKGROUND: Great emphasis is placed on optimizing treatment of hospitalized patients with diabetes and hyperglycemia. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine if the application of hospital-wide insulin order sets improved inpatient safety by reducing the number of actual hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events and increasing at-target blood glucose. DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was conducted of hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events and at-target blood glucose occurring before and after institution of the insulin order sets and blood glucose protocols. SETTING: The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Medical Center is a 709-bed hospital and tertiary referral center for partnering hospitals in the southeastern United States. PATIENTS: All patients were evaluated who had a documented history of diabetes or who had at least 1 finger-stick blood glucose above 180 mg/dL who were admitted for care to the MUSC adult main hospital (minimum of 18 years-of-age; maximum 100 years-of-age) during June 2004, June 2005, June 2006, and June 2007. INTERVENTION: The intervention involved institution of hospital-wide hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, subcutaneous insulin, and intravenous insulin treatment protocols. MEASUREMENTS: Retrospective data on hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and at-target blood glucose incidence and frequency were collected via a computerized repository for all inpatients. RESULTS: The percent time in range improved by 10% with no increase in the amount of severe hypoglycemic episodes for the blood glucose results. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing standardized insulin order sets including hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia treatment protocols at MUSC produced expected benefits for patient safety for this patient population. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2009;4:331–339. © 2009 Society of Hospital Medicine.