Date of Award

Fall 2014

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

First Advisor

Malachowski, Judith, PhD, RN, CNE, Chair

Second Advisor

Moore, Leslie, PhD, RN, CNE, MBA

Third Advisor

Yancey, Teresa, RN, JD, CCM

Abstract

Challenges in meeting the healthcare needs of the aging population have led to an increased rate of preventable hospitalizations, which are reported to be costly and detrimental to the health of the elderly, especially for those in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs). Quality improvement initiatives have been proposed as an intervention to improve quality of care of individuals and populations. The purpose of this project was to raise awareness and set the foundation for staff engagement and empowerment in the use of INTERACT (Interventions to Reduce Acute Care Transfers) tools in a SNF. INTERACT is designed to improve quality of care of SNF residents by reducing potentially preventable hospitalizations through interventions made possible by early identification, assessment, documentation, and communication about changes in condition of residents. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework structured the project. The foundation of this project centered on intense educational sessions on staff role and the project tools. Anticipated short-term outcomes were increasing staff awareness and empowerment of their key role in reducing preventable hospitalizations.

Included in

Nursing Commons

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