Quality Improvement Commons^™

Improving Usage Of Low-Dose Chest Ct For Lung Cancer Screening Amongst Tobacco Users That Fall Within Certain Criteria Per Uspstf Recommendations - A Quality Improvement Project, Karissa Charles, Evelyn Ogbomoh, Anthony Shadiack

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Chaos To Calm: Utilizing Checklists In The Icu To Improve Quality During Intubations, J Dunitz, Matthew Daniel, Will Hickman, Sarah Johnson, Erik Porter

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Patient Safety: The Role Of Interdisciplinary Teams In Reducing Blood Culture Contamination, Fady M. Awad, Austin Patrick-Eisenberg, Brian Watson, Mohamed Faris

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Quality Over Quantity: Doula Perspectives On Equity, Access, And Quality Of Care In Black Maternal Health Outcomes, Terry-Ann E. Lynch

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Black maternal mortality in the United States is a public health crisis. There are a plethora of reasons as to why maternal and fetal deaths disproportionately impact Black women. From a public health perspective, health disparities are an area of concern in marginalized communities, with Black maternal mortality being a risk factor. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2021, the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black (subsequently, Black) women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for non-Hispanic White (subsequently, White) women (26.6)” Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2021” …

Association Between The Social Vulnerability Index And Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, Tetsuya Kawakita, Misa Hayasaka, Lindsay Robbins, Juliana Martins, George Saade

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Objective: To assess the association between the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and racial disparities in pregnancy outcomes across U.S. counties and to quantify these racial disparities.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using restricted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data sets, including natality data sets, fetal death data sets, and all-cause mortality data sets from 2016 to 2021. We limited analyses to Black or White individuals aged 15-44 years from 3,114 U.S. counties. Participants were categorized into quartiles based on county-level SVI. The primary outcome was maternal mortality rate while pregnant or within 42 days of the end of …

Exploring Lgbtq+ Competency In Healthcare, Jordan Whiteman

Honors College Theses

Marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ+ community are known to face healthcare disparities that negatively affect their process of navigating healthcare systems. This project explores the perceived lack of representation and understanding of the LGBTQ+ community within healthcare settings, exposing the deficits in knowledge for unique challenges and inequalities these patients may face. By viewing the literature, a myriad of complications faced by LGBTQ+ people in clinical settings can be identified. They possess a generalized feeling of mistrust towards the healthcare system. Healthcare staff overall describe low confidence with caring for this demographic. Heteronormativity’s presence in the field of healthcare …

Exploring The Perception Of Learning Environment Among Undergraduate Medical Students In South India – A Cross-Sectional Study, Suba A, Suma S, Shobana R, Abeetha S, Chitra M, Shruthy K M

Health Professions Education

Purpose: The term "learning environment" refers to the combined social, physical, and psychological context in which the students learn. While a dismissive environment can lead to stress and burnout, a supportive environment enhances professionalism and academic success. Students' perceptions of the medical school learning environment might vary significantly depending on their age, gender, kind of institution and based on their academic year. Comprehending the disparities in perceptions towards the educational setting related to the above said variations may aid in devising interventions that promote favourable experiences for medical students. This study aimed to assess perception of learning environment by South …

Evaluating The Impact Of Epic Integration And Dual Registered Nurse Check-Off On Pressure Injury Prevention Workflow Compliance, Darlene Y. Olowu

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Background

Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs), particularly sacral and heel injuries, remain a persistent challenge in critical care settings, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs.

Purpose

This quality improvement project aimed to improve compliance with a pressure injury prevention (PIP) workflow by integrating a dual RN check-off system within EPIC, thereby reducing sacral and heel pressure injuries. The project sought to enhance accountability, standardize documentation, and optimize compliance with evidence-based PIP measures.

Methodology

A Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework guided the project implementation in an oncologic intensive care unit (ICU). Key interventions included: (1) EPIC integration of a dual RN check-off …

Closing Racial And Ethnic Disparity Gaps In Pediatric Asthma Follow Up Care - A Quality Improvement Initiative, Ayodele Ayeko

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Closing racial and ethnic disparity gaps in pediatric asthma follow up care - A quality improvement initiative

Ayodele Ayeko

Introduction/Background: Inadequate management of asthma significantly contributes to poor asthma control, poor quality of life (QOL), and high hospitalization rates among pediatric patients. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines offer recommendations designed to enhance asthma control and improve the quality of life for those affected (2015), including recommendations for close follow up care. At WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital (WVUMCH), insufficient asthma control has been associated with lower clinic follow-up rates and an increase in hospitalization. Although educational initiatives …

Increasing Special Pathogen Preparedness At A Frontline Hospital: A Quality Improvement Project, Mckenna Freed, Christa Arguinchona, Barbara Bennett-Wolcott

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Generation Z’S Perception Of Skin Cancer And How It Relates To Climate Change, Piercen Bogolea

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, and climate change has been identified as a significant contributor. Preventative action early on can help reduce occurrence, but it is unknown if Generation Z is aware of this and is taking the necessary action now to protect themselves. This research aims to gauge the perception of Generation Z on the severity of skin cancer, the relationship between climate change and skin cancer, and the prevalence of preventative measures being taken. A survey was distributed to students aged 18 to 27 enrolled at the University of Central Florida through mixed sampling. The …

The Role Of Social Health Insurance In Achieving Universal Health Coverage In Asia: A Systematic Review, Afaf Jauhar, Mardiati Nadjib

Jurnal Ekonomi Kesehatan Indonesia

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) aims to ensure that all individuals have access to essential health services without financial hardship. Social Health Insurance (SHI) is critical in achieving this goal, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This systematic review explores the role of SHI systems in advancing UHC across 14 Asian countries, focusing on healthcare access, financial protection, and equity. A comprehensive search across PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect identified 768 articles, and 37 studies were selected after screening, following the PRISMA guidelines. The chosen studies cover countries with varying SHI models across Asia. The findings reveal that high-income countries such as …

Priorities To Care Within The Military Health System: A Mixed Methods Study On Military Spouse Access To Care During Covid-19 On Okinawa, Elayne L. Wilson

Theses & Dissertations

Military spouses in Okinawa experienced denial of care at military treatment facilities and off base Japanese healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over two years of travel restrictions further contributed to difficulties accessing healthcare while stationed on the island with their active-duty spouse. This study examined the implications of a priority-based access system through the TRICARE program implemented due to limited resources during COVID-19 and its impact on military spouses in a scarce medical resource environment. This concurrent mixed-methods research used a survey tool developed by Community First Hawaii to quantify access to healthcare and in-depth interviews to further explore …

Does Physician-Hospital Vertical Integration Affect Hospital Output?, Soumya Upadhyay, Neeraj Bhandari

Healthcare Administration and Policy Faculty Research

Background: Physician-hospital vertical integration is gaining steam but it is unclear how they affect hospital output.

Objective: To examine the direct impact of vertical integration on hospital output.

Design: A pooled design with 6-year data using linear regressions was used. Then, panel data design with hospital fixed effects was used.

Methods: We linked American Hospital Association data (2016-2021) with AHRQ Comparative Health System Performance Initiative’s Compendium (2018, 2020, 2021; 34 987 hospital-year observations) to develop new measures of vertical integration and assess its relationship with several measures of hospital output including annualized total admissions, total number of inpatients days, …

Advanced Practice Clinician Outcomes: Pre/Post Implementation Of An Advanced Practice Clinician Council, Jeannine M. Moss

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

Improving access to quality, affordable, and timely healthcare is a national priority. Health systems across the United States are utilizing Advanced Practice Clinicians (APCs) to fill the void in healthcare delivery. As provider shortages continue and the demand for APCs increases, organizations must develop robust structures to support APC engagement, retention, job satisfaction, and professional growth. Currently, 44% of the provider workforce within a large urban health system are APCs, yet despite substantial APC provider labor pool representation, the organization had little infrastructure to support APC professional growth and no mechanism for organizational involvement. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed …

Reducing No-Shows In A Behavioral Health Setting: A Program Evaluation, Meagan Evans

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

Mental healthcare in America faces many significant challenges; this is especially true in rural regions like Southwest Virginia. When patients miss their scheduled appointments, it represents a lost opportunity to deliver the critical mental health services that other individuals in need could have benefited from. A significant access issue presents itself when patients are not able to get the mental health support they need. The lack of outpatient access leads to patients utilizing emergency rooms inappropriately for what could have been routine care visits. A multitude of factors can contribute to patients failing to attend their scheduled appointments, including transportation …

The Living Document: Medical Records As A Malleable Presence, Camilla Lyckblad

Proceedings from the Document Academy

Understanding why individuals might safeguard information or keep secrets in working documents such as medical records is essential for the development of good quality care, fostering an environment where both patients and staff feel secure to part with sensitive information, encouraging more honest and open communication as well as improved quality of care. This ongoing research aims to deepen comprehension of information behavior in clinical contexts, where the contemporary medical record, with its increasing properties such as open record access for patients, can be viewed as an entity that both listens and influences. This examination sheds light on the complex …

Optimizing Fall Prevention: A Quality Improvement Initiative To Enhance Documentation And Intervention Accuracy Using The Hester Davis Scale In Medical-Surgical Units, Kiana Conn, Brooklin Hunter-Johnson, Jashan Kahlon, Adrian Paz

Master's Projects and Capstones

Falls among hospitalized patients remain a critical safety concern, particularly in medical-surgical units caring for geriatric and oncology patients. This quality improvement project aimed to evaluate and address gaps in adherence to fall prevention protocols by utilizing the Hester Davis Scale (HDS) in two medical-surgical units at a large metropolitan hospital in Southern California. The project focused on auditing current practices to identify inconsistencies in documentation and intervention implementation, emphasizing areas such as bed alarm activation, fall risk signage placement, and armband use. Weekly audits were conducted from October 3 to October 29, 2024, to establish baseline data and inform …

Improving Anesthesia Technician Workflow: Implementation Of A Standardized Checklist And Formal Handoff Communication Tool To Enhance Management Of The Pediatric Portable Anesthesia Lockers Recommendation, Megan Shayna Sosnick Msel, Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: The surgical department of a well-known Bay Area medical center faces substantial challenges in supply management. These challenges include inconsistent stocking, disorganized storage, and an inefficient ordering process. These logistical issues impact patient care negatively, increase supply costs, and weaken team morale and communication. U.S. hospitals spend $83 billion annually on medical supplies, with $25.4 billion wasted on preventable material expenses (Balkhi et al., 2022). Aim and Methods: This quality improvement project aims to train 80% of anesthesia technicians in proper stocking procedures for portable pediatric anesthesia lockers within three months. Interventions include the implementation of a standardized …

Reducing The Incidence Of Nosocomial Aspiration Pneumonia In The Adult Oncology Population Through Improved Compliance With Oral Hygiene Protocols, Kenneth R. Brown

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective

Oncology patients receiving chemotherapy are at risk of complications such as mucosal barrier injuries (MBI) and aspiration pneumonia, and aspiration pneumonia rates are higher than desired. Improved oral hygiene protocols and compliance in this population reduces the incidence of these complications.

Context and Background

The microsystem assessed includes six oncology units at Hospital A, a large California academic hospital. Aspiration pneumonia, commonly associated with MBI, is a life-threatening challenge that increases costs and complications in oncological treatment settings. An aspiration pneumonia task force focused on six oncology acute care units is committed to reducing the incidence of hospital acquired …