Let the Quality Improvement Cycle be your Guide…
Click through the tabs to view resources for each goal. The tabs represent
each step of the quality improvement cycle.
Getting Started provides an overview of the complete quality improvement
cycle.
Resources will continue to be developed and posted online through May
2013.
Goal selections
can now be made.
Nursing home residents are often transferred to hospitals when they
have an acute change in their clinical condition. Many such changes in
condition can be managed safely without transfer, avoiding the trauma and
risks associated with hospitalization. In order to achieve this goal, nursing
home staff must be prepared and have the necessary resources available.
Working on this goal will assist nursing home staff to safely care for
residents on-site using evidence-based and expert recommended tools and
practices to reduce rates of hospitalization without compromising residents’
well-being or wishes.
How
does reducing hospitalizations safely benefit residents?
- Residents receive timely care from staff members who know
the resident and who are able to respond to the resident’s individual
preferences and needs.
- Residents remain in a familiar environment with their
personal possessions and maintain their routines as much as possible.
- Residents avoid an uncomfortable, often traumatic, trip to
the hospital, and potentially long delays in the hospital’s emergency
room.
- Residents avoid adverse events that can occur due to
miscommunication between the hospital and the nursing home.
- Residents avoid adverse effects that can occur due to a
change in their medication regimen.
- Residents avoid acquiring a hospital-related complication.
- Residents are not confused by changes in utilization
review or reimbursement procedures.
How
does reducing hospitalizations safely benefit staff?
- Staff members are more satisfied and thus more likely to
stay.
- Staff are more skilled and confident in care delivery and
better able to identify changes in condition and learn evidence-based
care practices.
- Staff are able to maintain connection with the resident
that is often lost once a hospital transfer is made.
- Staff are able to provide continuous support to the
resident and family members.
- Staff are able to practice at a level for which they are
trained and licensed.
How
does reducing hospitalizations safely benefit nursing homes?
- Nursing homes better maintain census as a result of
increased referrals from hospitals due to better resident outcomes.
- Nursing homes have better customer satisfaction and
improved community image.
- Nursing homes save time and money because work associated
with hospitalizations and readmissions are eliminated.
- Nursing homes will meet the national Partnership for
Patients efforts and Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI)
requirements by reducing transfers to the hospital.
- Nursing homes will prepare for payment reform and
partnering with hospitals, home health agencies and others in
accountable care organizations and other similar initiatives.