Ineffective communication remains a major factor contributing to medical errors and sentinel events in health care that lead to fatalities and billions in malpractice cost. Nurses have a leading role in communicating valuable patient information to...
Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) is widely accepted as an effective Quality Improvement (QI) methodology in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF). Accountable care organizations (ACOs) are interested in promoting this methodology in collaborative endeavors with...
Reducing avoidable hospitalizations is a common concern for nursing home residents as debility, functional decline, morbidity and mortality are inevitable complications of hospitalization. Therefore, nursing homes and hospitals across the country...
Indwelling urinary catheters are a frequent cause of infection, which may result in hospitalization and increased morbidity and mortality. Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) and its complications are linked to increased health care...
Each year, the health care system loses billions of dollars due to falls in the geriatric population, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Clinical depression is relatively uncommon among older US adults, but depressive symptomatology has...
Deaconess Health System developed a post-acute embedded Nurse Practitioner (NP) program in partnered skilled nursing facilities (SNF) to improve patient transitions and coordination of care. This model has improved patient care, lowered 30-day...
Hospice services provided to residents of post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) facilities are associated with higher resident and family satisfaction and lower health care costs. One barrier to timely hospice enrollment is limited understanding of...
Post-Acute Care skilled nursing facilities have become a key component to improving quality of care and reducing health care costs nationwide. Several models have been considered to address the complex care and expense that post-acute care...
Preventing hospital readmissions while meeting patients’ needs is one of the top priorities of subacute facilities. Our experience suggests that for many older patients with multiple comorbidities, the hospital stay adds little to their well-being...
MAM is a MS interest group that provides community service music and art performances. PALTC events are coordinated by the activities director. Music and Art QI projects have revealed a positive response in depression, pain, and cognition. A new QI...
