Case Study: Cardinal Glennon Completes Successful Product Trial of TLC Splint
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital strives for patient safety and quality care in all of their processes, which includes looking for opportunities to try something new. This focus inspired Cardinal Glennon to approve a trial of the I.V. House TLC® Splint in November 2022. By mid-January of 2023, the hospital decided to implement the product across all departments.
Read on to learn how the TLC Splint was successful in reducing peripheral IV therapy incidents (PIVIES) and increasing nurse efficiency for Cardinal Glennon.
Starting the TLC Splint Product Trial at Cardinal Glennon
Cardinal Glennon previously used traditional flat IV armboards for joint stabilization. The armboards were stiff and required tape to be secured in place. Nurses noticed the product was causing an increase in patient incidents during peripheral IV therapy because the tape obscured their view of common signs of IV site complications.
“The tape was a barrier,” said Melissa Novacich, Nurse Manager for Imaging Recovery and Procedural Sedation. “[Nurses] did not feel comfortable removing the tape to do a thorough assessment of the site.”
The hospital began reviewing its peripheral IV therapy processes and was connected with I.V. House to discuss using the TLC Splint as an alternative to the IV armboards. The TLC Splint keeps patients safe and comfortable during treatment by holding the joint in place for intravenous therapy. The product provides greater visibility and access for nurses because the straps do not cover the IV site—which enables nurses to catch and treat any complications more efficiently.
Novacich worked with Brooke Brothers, the Nurse Manager for the Transitional Care Unit, to put together a recommendation. They approached the New Products Committee about doing a trial of the TLC Splint in select departments, and received approval to move forward.
“There is a great culture here at Cardinal Glennon to [protect] our patients,” Novacich said. “We like to think of them as if they were our own kids.”
Improved Patient Safety and Nurse Efficiency
Cardinal Glennon chose three units to roll out the TLC Splint product trial in November 2022. The departments were chosen because they see a variety of ages, diseases and processes, and included:
- The Emergency Department
- The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
- The Transitional Care Unit (TCU)
Novacich observed that straps on the TLC Splint were comfortable to wear, so pediatric patients were not complaining or trying to take them off. The Splint also made it easier for nurses to see patient IV sites, promoting the “Touch, Look, Compare” process that gives the product its name. I.V. House offers TLC Splints designed to comfortably contour to the wrist, elbow, or foot, which are common areas to place IVs for Cardinal Glennon’s pediatric population. The hospital keeps the different sizes organized in a cart, making it simple for nurses to find the best fit.
“The nurses love it,” Brothers said. “They love the range of sizes. [The TLC Splint] fits a specific joint, instead of having an armboard that you’re trying to mold to something.”
Prior to the product trial, Cardinal Glennon had 11 patient IV-related incidents in 2022. During the TLC Splint trial, ZERO IV-related incidents occurred.
Implementing the TLC Splint Full Rollout
After the success of the product trial, Cardinal Glennon chose to use the TLC Splint in all departments beginning in mid-January of 2023. Brothers said the I.V. House team was instrumental in the successful rollout of the product—going to each unit to show the nurses how to use the TLC Splint.
“They came in multiple days and during multiple shifts to catch all of those day and night nurses,” Brothers said, “They made sure our nurses felt comfortable with the product.”
The TLC Splint was a success for Cardinal Glennon, helping the hospital achieve its goal of reducing peripheral IV therapy incidents. Novacich noted that 6 months post-trial, there had been zero patient incidents resulting from IV site complications since the product was introduced, and that the team has also seen improvements in IV infiltration and extravasation rates.
Brothers said the product brought excitement and new energy to both the New Product Committee and the nurses.
“It drives the focus of safety and quality here at Cardinal Glennon,” Brothers said.
Start Your TLC Splint Product Trial
The TLC Splint proved to be an effective alternative to traditional IV armboards at Cardinal Glennon. The ergonomic design keeps patients comfortable during intravenous therapy, and the product’s features provide nurses with greater visibility and access to the IV site—which enables them to catch and treat any IV site complications quickly and effectively.
Our best ideas come from nurses, and the TLC Splint is no exception. I.V. House collaborates with vascular access nurses, along with the leading experts in ergonomic design, to ensure our products promote patient safety and nurse efficiency.
Interested in doing your own trial of the TLC Splint? Our team will help train your nurses on how to use the product to ensure a successful rollout. Order a sample to see the difference I.V. House products can make for your patients and nurses.
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