Statewide strategy to improve quality of care in nursing facilities.
OBJECTIVE
We describe the development of a statewide strategy to improve resident outcomes in nursing facilities, and we present some evaluative data from this strategy.


METHODS
Key components of the strategy include (a) a partnership between the state agency responsible for the nursing home survey and certification and the school of nursing in an academic health sciences center; and (b) on-site clinical expert technical assistance and support to facilities throughout the state.


RESULTS
The partnership has resulted in state agency staff having information from analyses about resident needs and outcomes in the state and facilities having access to the quarterly electronic "Show-Me Quality Indicator Report." On-site clinical expert technical assistance is now used widely across the state, with 569 site visits conducted in 286 different facilities to help them interpret their quality indicator (QI) reports and implement quality improvement programs; statewide improvements in QI scores have been measured in several key QIs.


CONCLUSIONS
Other states should consider building partnerships with schools of nursing in an academic health sciences center. Programs using on-site clinical consultation can facilitate improving quality of care in nursing facilities.
Rantz
Marilyn J
MJ
Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri--Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. RantzM@health.missouri.edu
Vogelsmeier
Amy
A
Manion
Pam
P
Minner
De
D
Markway
Betty
B
Conn
Vicki
V
Aud
Myra A
MA
Mehr
David R
DR
D000368:Aged; D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.; D006801:Humans; D008923:Missouri; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012579:Schools, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States