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An Integrated Model Of Palliative Care In The Emergency Department To Improve Referrals, Jennifer L. Schlatter

Doctoral Projects

Introduction: The emergency department plays a critical role in the trajectory of in-hospital patient care. The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) along with the American College of Emergency Physicians (AECP) recommend early referral to palliative care for patients with life limiting illnesses that present to the emergency department. Research demonstrates that early palliative care consultations result in patient directed goals of care, improved symptom management, decreased length of stay, and reduced direct costs for inpatient hospitalizations.

Objectives: The goal of this project was to implement evidence-based recommendations for early palliative care referrals in an adult emergency department to improve …

Improving Heart Failure Care Plan Coordination Across The Health Care Continuum, Amy Veltkamp

Doctoral Projects

Heart failure costs the United States 31 billion dollars each year, with much of those costs attributed to hospital admissions. Coordinating care across the health care continuum is a critical factor in improving heart failure care and reducing readmissions. An organizational assessment was conducted using the Burke and Litwin Causal Model of Organizational Performance and Change. The quality improvement project implemented a longitudinal plan of care (LPOC) across 10 hospitals and numerous ambulatory care sites at a large Midwestern health organization. Nurse care managers (NCMs) were the focus of this project due to their high-level of involvement in care coordination. …

Improving Patient Handover From The Pediatric Emergency Department To The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Kathryn Devinney

Doctoral Projects

Patient safety can be at risk during registered nurse handover, particularly when transitioning between high risk areas. According to The Joint Commission (2017), a standardized transition process should be implemented during patient handover. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the effect of a standardized process with a cognitive aid on handover between a pediatric emergency department and an intensive care unit. Objectives of the project were to decrease conversion time in the emergency department, increase standardized process utilization, and improve patient outcomes, registered nurse perception and satisfaction, and patient proxy satisfaction. This evidence-based quality improvement project took place …