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Enhancing Patient Understanding and Reducing Readmissions: Implementing a Structured Discharge Teaching Protocol in a Medical-Surgical Unit
Get PDFBackground
Hospital readmissions remain a critical challenge in healthcare, especially in medical-surgical units. The high rates of hospital readmissions are often linked to inadequate patient understanding of discharge instructions. Many patients struggle with deciphering discharge plans, leading to medication errors, missed follow-up appointments, and poor self-care management. A structured discharge teaching protocol has the potential to enhance patient comprehension, improve adherence to port-discharge care, and reduce readmission rates.
Project Goals
This project aimed to improve understanding of discharge instructions, reduce hospital readmissions, and enhance patient satisfaction with the discharge process. Specific objectives included increasing patient comprehension from 65% to 90% within 30 days post-discharge, reducing readmission rates by 20%, and achieving a 20% improvement in patient satisfaction scores within two months of implementation.
Methods
A structured discharge teaching protocol was implemented on a 33-bed medical-surgical unit to diminish the issue of excessive hospital readmission. The protocol included patient-specific education sessions and follow-up support, bolstered by the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice (JHNEBP) model and Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles. Effectiveness was determined using a pre-post intervention design. Post-implementation, patient comprehension was assessed using the AIDET Smart Tool and post-discharge questionnaires, while readmission rates were tracked using electronic health records.
Results
The structured discharge planning protocol demonstrated measurable improvements: patient understanding scores increased from 65% to 92%, surpassing the 90% goal. Thirty-day readmissions decreased by 22%, and patient satisfaction scores related to discharge education improved by 25%. The intervention also supported a reduction in average length of stay by 0.5 days, reflecting more efficient discharge processes.
Conclusion
The project underscores the importance of structured, patient-centered protocols in enhancing outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. Findings advocate for institutional adoption of similar frameworks to strengthen care transitions. Future efforts should focus on sustainability through staff education and the integration of technology
The Effect of Family Nutrition on the Presence of Developmental Delays in Children Age 5-10 Years Old
Get PDFThis study investigates the correlation between family nutrition and the prevalence of developmental delays in children aged 5 to 10 years in the United States. Using data from the 2023 National Survey of Children’s Health, we explored the impact of household food security on the occurrence of developmental delay. Our results of the study revealed a statistically significant association between food insecurity and developmental delays. This supports the hypothesis that limited access to nutritious food increases the likelihood of developmental challenges. Families who reported inconsistent or insufficient access to nutritious meals were more likely to report that their child had been diagnosed with a developmental delay. These results are consistent with existing literature emphasizing the critical role of early childhood nutrition in physical, cognitive, and emotional development. While the study benefits from a large, nationally representative sample, limitations include the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data which have the potential to effect findings. Future research should consist of using longitudinal data and consider confounding factors to better conclude causal relationships. This study underscores the importance of family-level nutritional interventions and policies in reducing developmental disparities and supporting children’s long-term health and overall development
Shifting the Narrative: Photovoice as a Strategy to Highlight, Interrupt, And Challenge Anti-blackness in Educational Spaces
Get PDFThis Improvement Science in Practice dissertation employs a mixed-methods, critical participatory action research approach to examine strategies educators can use to disrupt anti-Black practices contributing to racial discipline disparities affecting Black students. The Iceberg Model (Monat & Gann, 2015), a framework for understanding the systemic structures, patterns, and mental models perpetuating anti-Blackness in educational spaces guided the analysis. This study explores how overt and covert expressions of anti-Blackness manifest in schools, particularly in the hyper-disciplining of Black students, a term used to describe the disproportionately high rates of disciplinary actions imposed on Black students, which negatively impact their mental and physical well-being. The study aims to enhance educators\u27 cultural awareness and competency through targeted interventions and strategic resources, equipping them with tools to recognize, challenge, and disrupt harmful biases.
A key component of this study was the integration of Photovoice, an arts-based participatory research method that raises critical consciousness, fosters self-reflection, and drives social change (Bazemore-Bertrand, 2021; Wang & Burris, 1997). Over a six-week professional learning journey, co-researchers actively engaged in critical reflections, discussions, and Photovoice activities. Findings indicated a significant increase in educators\u27 awareness of anti-Blackness and a strengthened commitment to equitable action. This study reinforces the effectiveness of Photovoice as a transformative tool for disrupting systemic inequities in education, highlighting the importance of active engagement in the research process
Polaroid Camera- Edwin Herbert Land
No full textLand was a scientist and inventor born In Bridgeport. He filed for a patent -Polarizing Refracting Bodies on April 26, 1929. Along with a partner, he would later became the founder of the Polaroid Company in 1937. He designed many of the company\u27s products and is responsible or over 500 patents.
For more information, https://connecticuthistory.org/edwin-land-inventor-of-the-polaroid-born-today-in-history-may-7/https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/didyouknow/1003/thumbnail.jp
Thronless Rose- Nick Grillo
No full textNick Grillo immigrated to Connecticut from Italy. In Southington he worked as a laborer in a greenhouse and in 1915, set up his own greenhouse in the Milldale portion of Southington. In 1938, Grillo developed the Thornless Beauty—the first hybrid tea rose without thorns. He patented the Grillodale rose in 1923 and in 1931 the American Pride Rose.
For more information https://connecticuthistory.org/nicholas-grillo-and-his-thornless-rose/
https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/flashback-photo-nick-grillo-thornless-roses-1942/https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/didyouknow/1004/thumbnail.jp
Implementing “Break Buddies”, a Nurse-Nurse Collaboration Model, to Improve Employee Satisfaction within Cardiology Unit
No full textBackground/Introduction: Employee satisfaction and patient satisfaction/experience are largely correlated and when one declines, evidence suggests that the other will be affected similarly (Copanitsanou et al., 2017). The Great Place to Work (GPTW), a nationally recognized designation, is measured using a standardized, commercially available staff survey to evaluate nurses’ satisfaction throughout the project site organization (Boo, 2024). Nurse-nurse collaboration is one model to implement approaches to improve staff satisfaction (Stutting, 2023).
Project Goals Implement and pilot a nurse-nurse collaboration ‘break buddy’ model to support staff and increase employee satisfaction on a Cardiology Unit in a community hospital setting within a 2-month time frame. Increase the employee satisfaction post 2 months implementation and beyond.
Methods: The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Model (PDSA) guided the project’s implementation and evaluation (IHI, 2021). A new staffing coverage model, Break Buddy, was developed and implemented to promote staff opportunities for uninterrupted work rest periods during their assigned shift.
Results: Pre-intervention, 40% of the 15 participants favorably rated various workplace elements addressed in the 13 survey questions, while 60% of the 15 participants unfavorably rated the same elements. Post-intervention, 77% of the 15 participants favorably rated the same elements, while 23% unfavorably rated the elements.
Conclusion: Nurse-nurse collaboration, through the ‘Break Buddy’ model may be helpful in improving staff workplace satisfaction by promoting daily uninterrupted rest breaks to relax and recharge
Weight Loss Education and Telehealth Reviews for Obese Patients: A Quality Improvement Project
No full textSignificance and Background: Obesity is a multifactorial disease resulting in multiple health complications. Telehealth is a strategic method incorporating obesity management into primary care (PC). External evidence supports the use of telehealth for obesity management, as it can increase access to care and promote weight loss. The identified benefits of telehealth include convenience, efficiency, communication, privacy, comfort, increased patient satisfaction, and minimized cost. Primary care providers (PCPs) need designated time with patients to discuss obesity and weight loss in addition to the typical patient encounter.
Purpose: Increase PC patient knowledge of obesity and possible health complications. Utilize telehealth to educate patients on the multiple factors affecting weight loss. Increase awareness that PCPs need designated time to discuss obesity and weight loss.
Interventions and Setting: The Knowledge to Action (KTA) framework was used for project guidance at a Connecticut PC clinic. Initially, 15 participants were to be selected for weekly educational telehealth reviews for 10 weeks to measure changes in BMI and weight. Due to a lack of participant commitment, the project was modified to an educational weight loss handout with a single telehealth review. Data collection included initial and post-survey ratings of the telehealth review and a time log of patient sessions. There were 15 participants in total, and the mean age was 41.46. Participants included eight females (53.33%) and seven males (46.6%). All participants had a BMI above 30. Outcome measurements include survey ratings and time logs.
Evaluation: Post telehealth, the survey rating of participant knowledge of obesity and health complications increased from a mean of 4.6 to 9.26. The confidence rating in approaching weight loss increased from a mean of 3.86 to 8.26. The average time log of the participant\u27s telehealth review was 68.2 minutes.
Discussion: Implementing telehealth reviews for obesity and weight management increased patient knowledge of obesity and health complications. The time log during implementation increases awareness that PCPs need designated time to discuss obesity and weight loss management with patients. Recommendations include individual or group telehealth sessions for obesity and weight loss education
Determining how oyster health and parasite prevalence differ between aquaculture grow-out methods
Get PDFOyster aquaculture provides a variety of valuable ecosystem services and is a critical component of sustainable seafood production in the United States. However, a number of stressors, such as pollutants and parasites, hamper the sustainability of oyster aquaculture. Oyster aquaculture uses multiple farming techniques, such as on-bottom cages and floating bags, to optimize oyster survival, growth, condition, and marketability. These different methods expose oysters to a variety of abiotic and biotic factors that can independently and interactively affect oyster health metrics. In particular, the relationship between grow-out methods and parasite exposure, and the consequent effects on oyster survival and growth, merit further investigation. Here, we compared survival and growth of oysters grown on-bottom vs floating at four aquaculture sites in Massachusetts, and measured parasite prevalence from July to December in 2023 and 2024. We found that oysters grown in on-bottom cages had consistently lower survival, decreased growth, and worse condition than oysters grown in floating bags, though the magnitude of these differences varied across aquacultures sites. Similarly, microparasite prevalence varied across site x depth combinations. Our findings can be used to inform aquaculture in New England, specifically how variation in parasite prevalence can affect oyster survival, growth, and marketability