Performance improvement in managed long-term care: physician communication in managing community-dwelling older adults.
This performance improvement initiative focused on the nurse consultant's communication with the physician about care management of community-dwelling older adults. Three defined areas were measured: (1) changes in clinical setting, (2) reporting adverse effects from medications that can contribute to falls, and (3) HbA1c results >9. Physicians were informed of our quality initiative; nurse practitioners led workshops addressing barriers to effective communication; and portable reference cards were created to assist staff in organizing information prior to contacting a physician. The Project Goal of 10% improvement for all three indicators was achieved. Staff identified best practices for communicating with physicians.
VNS CHOICE, New York, NY 10001, USA. polina.kogan@vnsny.org
Polina
P
Kogan
Susan
S
Underwood
Donna
D
Desmond
Marjorie
M
Hayes
Gina
G
Lucien
D000368:Aged; D019985:Benchmarking; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003142:Communication; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009518:New York; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D019555:Physician-Nurse Relations; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D017010:Reminder Systems; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*