Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Increasing Inpatient Access To Palliative Care Consultations: A Pilot Quality Improvement Study, Tyler Wilson Dnpc, Rn, Jason Garbarino Dnp, Rn, Cnl

College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Publications

Purpose: Palliative care is focused on providing relief of symptoms and the stress of chronic illness, providing an improved quality of life for both patient and family (CAPC, 2020). Eighty percent of consumers who receive information about palliative care say they would choose it for themselves or their loved ones, however, 60% of those consumers never actually receive those services (CAPC, 2020; Compton-Phillips, 2020).

Methods: This quality improvement study aimed to increase the number of appropriate palliative care consultations on an inpatient general medicine unit by designing and implementing a nurse-driven protocol and palliative screening assessment. Staff nurses were educated …

Screening For Palliative Care Services In An Assisted Living Facility, Maria Delia Crosby

College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Publications

Background: Palliative care services remain under-utilized, even as evidence suggests that early palliative care leads to positive health outcomes, reduced ED visits, and substantial cost savings. Barriers include a lack of knowledge of palliative care services in the community, and under-utilization of validated assessment tools, including a symptom checklist. Aims of this project: 1. To determine whether the integration of validated community-based palliative care screening tool in an assisted living setting will identify older adults with unmet palliative care needs. 2. To determine if tool implementation could lead to a referral for palliative care consultation.

Methods: A screening tool developed …

Increasing Completion Of Advance Directives In The Primary Care Setting, Emily A. Vayda

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

In the state of Vermont we have an increasing senior population that is greater than the national average. with this increase comes a greater need to end of life care planning. Completion of advance directives in the primary care setting reduces costs in end of life care, but also reduces stress and anxiety for family members of the patient receiving care. To increase completion of advance directive patients and providers will be educated on advance care planning and informed of community resources that aid in completion of the many forms available to patients.

Caring For Caregivers: Addressing Caregiver Burden In Newtown, Connecticut, Zachary Wunrow

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

In 2015, thirty-four million Americans provided unpaid care to an adult 50 years or older. Due to an aging population and an increased number of individuals living with chronic disease, the niche that caregivers occupy in healthcare administration will only become more invaluable in the coming years. However, studies demonstrate that one-third of caregivers report a high burden of care, and these stresses are accompanied by documented health risks including higher rates of depression, insomnia, and all-cause mortality. This project aims to increase awareness about caregiver burden via a pamphlet for caregivers listing local resources that may alleviate burden, and …

Reducing Preventable Hospitalizations: A Study Of Two Models Of Transitional Care, Jessica Morrison

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Purpose: Transitional care is an emerging model of health care designed to decrease preventable adverse events and associated utilization of healthcare through temporary follow-up after hospital discharge. This study describes the approach and outcomes of two transitional care programs: one is provided by masters-prepared clinical nurse specialists (CNS) with a chronic disease self-management focus, another by physicians specializing in palliative care (PPC). Existing research has shown that transitional care programs with intensive follow up reduce hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and costs. Few studies, however, have included side-by-side comparisons of the efficacy of transitional care programs varying by health care providers …

A Study To Investigate The Significance Of Knowing One's Prognosis In People Diagnosed With Life-Limiting Illnesses, Erika Currier

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

ABSTRACT

Background: For patients with life-limiting illnesses, having adequate knowledge of prognosis can strongly impact the choice between curative and supportive treatment.

Objectives: The purpose of this research study is to explore patient understanding of prognosis and to illuminate the experience of having or not having prognostic information in people diagnosed with life-limiting illnesses. This study aims to investigate the patient's understanding of the term "prognosis", the significance of the term "prognosis" to the patient, and how prognosis may or may not affect future treatment choices. In addition, this study aims to further understand the experience of prognostic communication between …