Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Collaborative Approach To Incentivizing Healthy Food Choices Among Uncontrolled Diabetic Patients At A Local Federally Qualified Health Center To Improve Health Outcomes, Briauna J. Taylor

Doctoral Projects

Background: The rate of uncontrolled diabetes among patients at a local Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) is higher than the nation standard, a phenomenon believed to be caused by the effects of social determinants of health (SDOH). SDOH, specifically food insecurity, play a significant role in health outcomes of diabetic patients. Increasing access to healthy foods, thereby reducing food insecurity, has the potential to improve glycemic control and reduce diet related chronic disease.

Objectives: The project aims to determine if partnership with a membership based incentivized grocery store has the potential to positively impact health outcomes among vulnerable patients with …

A Policy Analysis Of Adult Lead Exposure Screening In Michigan, Omoyemi A. Idowu

Doctoral Projects

A growing body of scientific literature suggests that even at low levels, lead is an important, but often overlooked risk factor for cardiovascular disease mortality in adults. Through an initial literature review and organizational assessment, the DNP student was able to identify a potential gap between current research and policy guidelines related to adult lead exposure screening in the state of Michigan. The purpose of this policy analysis project was to examine current literature and policy guidelines related to lead exposure screening in the adult population in order to identify and analyze a potential gap that may be amenable to …

Implementation Of Evidence-Based Chronic Non-Malignant Pain Management Protocol For Primary Care, Jenny E. Kipp

Doctoral Projects

Chronic pain is the most prevalent health condition in the United States and is the most common reason people seek healthcare (Chang, Daubresse, Kruszewski & Alexander, 2014). In 2012, health care providers wrote 259 million prescriptions for opioid pain medications despite little change in self-reported pain prevalence (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2016; Chang et al., 2014). Initiatives to prevent the under treatment of pain have resulted in overreliance on opioids to treat pain. As a consequence of opioid centric prescribing, an opioid epidemic has evolved with devastating consequences such as dependence, addiction and overdose deaths related to …

Increasing Screening And Education For Human Trafficking In The Obstetric Department, Chibwe Caroline Powell

Doctoral Projects

Background: Human Trafficking, is a human rights violation with global public health implications. HT is associated with multiple health problems. Healthcare providers working in obstetrics departments are in a unique position to interact with trafficked persons. Lack of specific HT screening tools, training and education have been identified as barriers to recognizing HT victims.

Objectives: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase victim identification and referrals by improving screening through implementation of an interdisciplinary screening tool into the EHR workflow and providing HT education.

Methods: This project examined the impact of implementing a HT screening tool and …

Interprofessional Collaboration During Discharge Planning For A Large Midwestern Hospital, Sarah Shepler

Doctoral Projects

Introduction: Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) improves the quality of healthcare delivery. IPC enhances communication during discharge planning, through use of structured daily rounds to reduce readmissions, length of stay (LOS), cost, and mortality. A $240 billion reduction in cost could be achieved with IPC. The Joint Commission, Institute of Medicine, and World Health Organization emphasize use of IPC to reduce errors, improve patient outcomes, and refine transitions of care for patients.

Objectives: The goal of this project was to determine how IPC within structured daily rounds during discharge planning impacts patient LOS and staff satisfaction.

Methods: This quality improvement project was …

An Implementation Toolkit For Increasing Breastfeeding Sustainability, Regina Kirwin

Doctoral Projects

Introduction: African American women have the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the United States compared to other racial and ethnic groups (DHHS, 2016). Peer support increases breastfeeding rates (Shakya, 2017). An evidence-based implementation toolkit will provide key stakeholders the information and skill development needed to successfully implement and sustain peer support programs geared toward increasing breastfeeding rates for African American women in West Michigan. The purpose of this paper is to disseminate the quality improvement process used to develop an evidence-based toolkit guided by a secondary data analysis from research data collected in a previously implemented peer mentor program.

Objective: …

Evaluation Of Processes And Procedures For Care Of The Opioid Recipient Patient In The Primary Care Setting, Anne Sproat

Doctoral Projects

Introduction: Chronic non-cancer pain is far reaching, affecting over 100 million Americans (Zgierska et al., 2018). Opioids are commonly prescribed for chronic pain, with approximately 20% of patients presenting to primary care offices with symptoms of pain or pain-related diagnoses (Dowell, Haegerich, & Chou, 2016). As a result, opioid prescribing rates are increasing at a faster rate for primary care practice compared with other specialties (Dowell et al., 2016). Within the United States population, it is estimated that three percent to four percent of the adult population are prescribed long-term opioids for the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain (Dowell et …