Family Practice Nursing Commons^™

Improving Assessment, Documentation, And Ordering Of Diabetic Retinopathy Screenings In A Primary Care Clinic, Lauren N. Motto

DNP Projects

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the leading cause of new blindness in American adults. As the number of people with type 2 diabetes continues to increase, the total number of people affected by diabetic retinopathy (DR) will continue to rise. Improved access to screening for DR, followed by treatment, if necessary, can reduce the progression to vision loss. Despite national recommendations, less than half of Americans with DM complete annual diabetic retinopathy screenings (DRS).

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to improve assessment, education, documentation, and ordering of DRS for patients with a diagnosis of type 1 and/or …

Keep The Beat With Heart Failure Education: A Quality Improvement Project, Brenda L. Peterson

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is the number one diagnosis-related group (DRG) for people 65 years of age and older in the United States. This disease group is complicated and debilitating, requiring frequent hospitalizations with high mortality rates. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has identified CHF as an area for improvement in hospitals.

Context: This was a quality improvement project for an integrated medical center in the Central Valley, California with over 19,000 HF patients. In 2018, for patients 65 years and older, HF is the third-most admitted DRG …

Eye Examination:Satisfying A Quality Care Measure In Diabetes, Meera Shekar

Dissertations

Abstract

Purpose: Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a microvascular complication occurs in patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus (DM). A known risk of increased visual impairment associated with DM occurs in patients when the glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1c) increases over 7.0%. Therefore, an annual retinal assessment as a quality care measure in diabetes management is necessary. The conducted study aimed to evaluate the documentation of an annual eye exam in all patients with DM in a private family practice clinic and to investigate any possible association between HbA1c level.

Method: This quality improvement study included a retrospective medical record review in …

Quiet At Night: A Quality Improvement Project, Maria Novales-Fiel

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: Providing a quiet environment is essential in patient’s healing and recovery. Last year, the October 15 through May 17 survey period resulted at a 2 Star Rating for the hospital, which is below the top 25th percentile. This result along with the patient population, telemetry designation, and unit size prompted the selection of the inpatient telemetry unit in Northern California for the change strategy plan.

Context: The microsystem is a 24-bed adult inpatient telemetry unit in Northern California. Assessment of the unit shows that inconsistencies exist when it comes to bundling care at night. Doors are …

Forensic Patient Flow: An Imbalance Between Capacity And Demand, Versie J. Bellamy

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The United States (U.S.) has an ever-growing incarcerated population. The sheer volume of this population coupled with inefficient patient flow through the judicial and health care systems, create a large imbalance between the high demand for services and the capacity to deliver them. The delay in criminal defendants accessing mental health services is impacted by the lack of patient flow, which creates barriers to entering and exiting the forensic hospital system. The increasing demand for inpatient forensic services, coupled with a static supply of resources, warrants further intervention by treatment and service providers. Identifying and removing barriers to patient …

Use Of The Afix Model To Improve Adolescent Hpv Vaccination: A Pilot Research Study, Emily Messerli

DNP Projects

Problem: The CDC estimates one person every 20 minutes every day acquires an HPV-related cancer. Kentucky’s HPV associated cancer burden is among the highest in the nation. Adolescent HPV vaccination rates in Kentucky are far below HealthyPeople 2020 goals. Barriers are multifaceted and include provider, patient and system barriers. The AFIX model is an evidenced based quality improvement program that addresses key provider barriers. The USPSTF findings identify a gap in the literature related to AFIX methods to improve rates of adolescent vaccines.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an intervention using the AFIX …

Management Of Hypertension In Student Patients In A University Student Clinic, Kathleen E. Solter

DNP Projects

Purpose: To evaluate provider adherence to a clinical guideline for management of hypertension, and to assess improvement in quality of management of student patients with hypertension in a university student clinic.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify student patients with hypertension. Data collected included the demographics of the sample patients, blood pressures, LDL results, weights, and evidence of provider compliance with guidelines.

Results: Of the 13 patient charts audited, providers recommended exercise to 46.15% of patients, weight loss or maintenance to 53.85% of patients, no-added salt diets to 53.85% of patients, low fat to 23.08% of patients, …

Pediatric Obesity: Taking Advantage Of Well-Child Visits For Early Identification, James E. Gelement

DNP Projects

Background: Pediatric obesity has reached epidemic levels in the United States and the burden of early identification and prevention lies with Primary Care Providers. With this burden comes the responsibility of increased documentation in order for patients to obtain the appropriate counseling, treatment, and referrals.

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify missed opportunities to identify pediatric patients that meet the criteria for overweight or obesity during well-child visits within a primary care practice.

Method: A retrospective chart review of 100 randomly selected patients born between 9/1/2001 and 9/1/2010 that have received a well-child visit between 1/1/2010 and …