Nursing Commons^™

Implementation Plan For Emr And Beyond, Lori Katterhagen

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Change is never easy for anyone, but how we implement change can make the difference in how an innovation is accepted. Over the last two years, a small community hospital in California has introduced a new electronic medical record (EMR) to meet the requirements of meaningful use mandated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) for all hospitals across the United States. EMRs are expected to improve quality in many areas, especially to improve outcomes, while safely reducing costs (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2012). Adoption of EMR’s is not optional, if facilities want to avoid penalties …

The Design, Implementation And Evaluation Of A Technology Solution To Improve Discharge Planning Communication In A Complex Patient Population, Susan M. Manfredi

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Unnecessary delays in discharge planning can extend the length of stay (LOS) and add non-reimbursable days for socially and medically complex patients thereby increasing the financial burden to healthcare organizations. The literature supports enhanced discharge communication strategies and the use of checklists to facilitate safe and timely discharges. Following root cause analyses of significant discharge delays, one hospital identified gaps in communication as key precursors associated with discharge planning breakdown when discharging patients to skilled nursing facilities. Review of these events demonstrated the need for concurrent communication strategies between multidisciplinary care team members in planning for complex discharges.

Following a …

Using A Dnp-Led Transitional Care Program To Prevent Rehospitalization In Elderly Patients With Heart Failure Or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Moira L. Long,

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

ABSTRACT: TRANSITIONAL CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC DISEASE

BACKGROUND OF PROBLEM:

The Affordable Care Act of 2010 has put a spotlight on ensuring safe patient transfers between health care settings to prevent rehospitalization. Hospital readmissions are often influenced by a lack of outpatient transitional care programs to ensure the continuity of care during the transition from the inpatient setting to home. This gap in continuity further exacerbates the issues of patient management of medication regimens, adverse drug events, and follow-up with providers. These exacerbations combined with ineffective symptom management can all result in decompensation and rehospitalization. An extensive review of …