Which quality improvement effort is appropriate for a respiratory therapy department?

The effectiveness of an oxygen titration protocol represents a crucial quality improvement effort within a respiratory therapy department. This protocol focuses on assessing how well oxygen therapy is being managed and adjusted based on patient needs. By evaluating the effectiveness of titration protocols, the department can ensure that patients are receiving the appropriate level of oxygen, which could lead to better clinical outcomes and improved patient satisfaction. This type of quality improvement directly impacts patient care, promoting better management of respiratory conditions and helping to avoid complications associated with inadequate or excessive oxygen delivery.

While studying the acuity index, assessing staffing efficiency, and examining the number of treatments per therapist are all relevant areas for evaluation within the department, they do not have the same direct correlation to patient outcomes as the effectiveness of an oxygen titration protocol. This makes the chosen answer particularly impactful for quality improvement in respiratory therapy, ensuring that the most critical aspects of patient care are being optimized.