Urinary Retention Evaluation & Catheterization Algorithm (URECA)

An adult inpatient urinary retention evaluation and catheterization algorithm was developed to improve patient safety by increasing appropriate use of bladder scanners and catheterization. This algorithm addresses the need for practical guidance to manage urinary retention among adult inpatients. The algorithm includes guidance on when to bladder scan, what bladder scanner volumes should prompt catheterization, and when intermittent catheterization is preferred to indwelling catheterization. The algorithm was established based on a using a systematic, multidisciplinary, evidence- and expert opinion–based approach mixed-methods study using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and qualitative interviews (Chrouser et al, 2024).

Published URECA Algorithm

URECA App Workflow & Logic Map

• Algorithm intended for adults in the inpatient setting.
• Cut offs were determined based on a combination of literature review, expert opinion, and local practice patterns.
• Use of external catheters to treat urinary retention is inappropriate as external catheters only collect spontaneously voided urine.