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Engaging and training diabetes patients is helping to change and save lives. Here's how: Rowan Regional Medical Center, Salisbury, NC, has developed a disease management program aimed at reducing readmissions. Work started with the Igloo initiative at RRMC and has expanded to a project funded…
Fully two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. One-third of American children are overweight or obese. And among children under the age of six, nearly one in five is overweight or obese. Obese people are far more likely to develop chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, asthma, heart…
A multidisciplinary team was formed to increase the rate of risk assessment and appropriate therapy for VTE prophylaxis. Evidence-based resources were used. The physician order form was evaluated for effectiveness and ease of use. A Plan-Do-Study-Act analysis was performed and areas for improvement…
The aim of this project was to reduce the number of Venous Thromboembolisms acquired during hospitalization or within 30 days after discharge by increasing the number of patients who receive appropriate prophylaxis. Strategies for change included shifting responsibility from the nurse to the…
A pressure ulcer team was developed and Plan-Do-Study-Act practice was used to focus on process change. Skin school and musical cues for turning patients were implemented and monthly prevalence studies were completed. Read the whole case study below (click 'view item').
Quarterly surveys revealed elevated hospital-acquired pressure ulcer rates unchanged by previous interventions. A random survey of nurses revealed gaps in awareness and knowledge. Low staff engagement in previous initiatives was identified as a barrier. The unit-based skin champion team (…
The reduction of HAPU has been a focus for 10 years at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center. Over that time, rates have decreased from 17 percent to 6-7 percent but practices were inconsistent. An administrative sanctioned Six Sigma project was targeted to reduce HAPU to 3 percent or less. Work…
The goal was set to develop a system-wide infrastructure to support the implementation of evidence-based clinical practice standards and effective prevention strategies that will have a direct impact on the incidence and prevalence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers and sustainment of…
Shortcomings in the treatment for patients with severe sepsis and septic shock were observed. An evidence-based protocol for patient resuscitation was introduced. A multidisciplinary critical care committee was formed to review outcomes and encourage improved compliance with best practices. A…
The quality assurance department developed a system for tracking quality indicators in every department of the hospital. The quality indicators are reported on a scheduled basis to the performance improvement committee and from there to the medical executive committee and the board of trustees.…