Reducing Re-hospitalizations of Patients with Heart Failure at a Skilled Nursing Facility

Authors

Louis D'Onofrio Jr., University of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow

Date of Graduation

5-2019

Document Type

Project

Keywords

Heart Failure, re-hospitalizations, skilled nursing facilities, quality improvement

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Degree Level

Graduate

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to introduce the quality improvement (QI) process to reduce re-hospitalization rates in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) in Stratford, Connecticut for patients having a diagnosis of heart failure (HF). After reviewing the data from the nursing facility for re-hospitalization rates over a three-month period, it was discovered that 22% of patients at the SNF were re-hospitalized within 30 days. Of this population of patients, 22.9% had a diagnosis or complication of HF, which is associated with the highest re-hospitalization rates. This QI project focused on HF education customized towards nursing and nursing assistant staff in order to reduce rates of heart-failure-associated re-hospitalization. The education sessions included ways to identify, prevent, and manage HF. Analysis revealed the rate of completed daily weights for patients with HF increased to 54%, the readmission rate of patients in the HF cohort reduced by 1.5%.

Citation

D'Onofrio, L. (2019). Reducing Re-hospitalizations of Patients with Heart Failure at a Skilled Nursing Facility. The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Student Works. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/nursstudent/2