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Learning Objective 1: Patient education can be successfully implemented in the Emergency Department setting.
Learning Objective 2: Learners may be able to duplicate similar programs within their respective organizations.
Purpose and Rationale: CHF is a progressive disease affecting 4-5 million Americans, it is characterized by frequent hospital admissions and high mortality rates. ED staff questioned whether an educational intervention targeting CHF patients would improve patient outcomes, decrease acute admissions, or reduce the frequency of ED repeat visits. The purpose of the Evidence-Based Practice Project (EBP) was to increase patient education, promote compliance, contribute to clinical stability, obtain better patient outcomes as well as improve quality of life and reduce rates of hospital admissions and readmissions.
Implementation Strategy: Each patient presenting to the ED with a diagnosis related to CHF will receive an education packet consisting of general information on CHF management based in research. This education also includes the names and phone numbers for the Primary Care Providers. The ED nurse identifies patients with CHF diagnoses and initiates discharge teaching to begin in the ER. This is tracked for follow up and data analysis.
Synthesis of the Evidence: Literature suggests patients generally have little education and understanding of the complexities involved with CHF management or the progression of the condition. Management includes exercise, medication, diet, and psychological support for patients who are commonly elderly. There may be multifactorial chronic processes including mentation changes and loss of family support. Studies show that an educational intervention can have a positive impact on CHF outcomes.
Evaluation of Plan: There will be a chart review of 30 day readmission rates and review after three (3) months and one (1) year to evaluate repeat ED visits and readmission rate for CHF.
See more of: Oral Paper & Poster: Evidence-Based Practice Sessions