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.
Medications, when used appropriately, can help promote the resident’s
highest practicable mental, physical, and psychosocial well-being. Medications
used inappropriately can compromise a resident’s well-being and even cause
death. Ensuring that residents receive medications that are needed and
appropriate for their medical condition is a critical component of safe and
effective care.
Initially, this goal will focus on antipsychotic drugs, which are
sometimes used to address behavioral responses in persons with dementia.
Working on this goal will provide the nursing home staff with alternative non
pharmacological interventions for residents who otherwise would likely be
treated with antipsychotic medications. In addition, working on this goal will
provide nursing home staff with tools to assist in reconciling medications,
starting with antipsychotic medications, to avoid inadvertent omissions,
duplications, and incorrect dosing. The result will be better health and
quality of life for residents.
How
does appropriate medication use benefit residents?
- Inappropriate use of antipsychotics is
associated with adverse effects such as death, heart attack, stroke,
falls, and hospitalizations.
- Non-pharmacologic interventions may enhance quality of
life for the resident.
- Non-pharmacologic interventions support a resident to
function at his or her highest practicable mental, physical and
psychosocial well-being.
- Non-pharmacologic interventions may enhance the
relationship between residents and their family and friends as well as
with staff.
- Avoiding inappropriate medications reduces the risk of
medication errors.
- Non-pharmacologic interventions provide opportunities for
holistic, person-centered care practices that help meet resident’s
physical, social, and emotional needs.
How
does appropriate medication use benefit staff?
- Non-pharmacologic interventions may enhance the
relationship between staff and residents and increase staff
satisfaction.
- Engaging residents in meaningful activity may be more
professionally rewarding and satisfying to staff than pharmacologic
intervention.
- Evidence-based tools and guidance for medication
reconciliation for antipsychotic medications are helpful for staff.
How
does appropriate medication use benefit nursing homes?
- Focus on non-pharmacologic interventions for persons with
dementia prepares the nursing home for increased survey activity in this
area.
- Person-centered care may lead to increased resident and
family satisfaction and thus improve nursing home marketability.
- Evidence-based tools, resources and guidance for
medication reconciliation related to the use of antipsychotic
medications assist the nursing home to provide a high standard of care.
- Litigation resulting from medication errors may be
reduced.
- Non-pharmacologic interventions frequently support other
nursing home quality initiatives, such as consistent assignment or
person-centered care practices, which are mutually beneficial.
Coordinating quality improvement initiatives leads to better outcomes
for the resident, staff and the nursing home care practices.