Poster Presentation
Thursday, 20 July 2006
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Thursday, 20 July 2006
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
This presentation is part of : Poster Presentations II
Development of a Geriatric Clinical Pathway Based on Hospital Elder Life Program Research
Victoria A. Edelman, RN, BSN, Nursing, Lankenau Hospital, Wynnewood, PA, USA and Ruth A. Mooney, BSN, MN, PhD, Nursing Education, Lankenau Hospital, Wynnewood, PA, USA.
Learning Objective #1: discuss the value of using a Geriatric Clinical Pathway to improve quality indicators in care of elderly patients.
Learning Objective #2: create a clinical pathway to guide nursing staff in the delivery of evidence based care.
The Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) was developed at Yale/ New Haven Hospital to decrease new onset delirium and functional decline in elderly hospitalized patients.  Risk factors were identified through research and corresponding strategies were developed to reduce these risks. H.E.L.P. strategies include; frequent patient orientation, increased mobility, attention to hearing and vision, emphasis on nutrition and hydration needs, mentally stimulating therapeutic activities, and a non-pharmacologic sleep protocol.

Lankenau Hospital, a community based teaching hospital, modified the model, renaming it H.E.A.L. (Helping Elders at Lankenau).  The goal of the H.E.A L. Program is to provide these strategies to the greatest number of patients possible. A Geriatric Clinical Pathway was developed, derived from the original strategies of the in H.E.L.P. research, to be used with every patient over age 70.  Clinical pathways guide the consistent delivery of focused evidence based care. The Geriatric Clinical Pathway is used in addition to the diagnostic clinical pathway.  

The Geriatric Clinical Pathway was piloted and modifications were made based on usability and feedback from the nursing staff.  Following education and the implementation of the final Geriatric Clinical Pathway on a Medical Telemetry Unit we found a decrease in the number of falls with injuries, restraints and urinary catheters.  In addition, an increase was noted on patient satisfaction scores with specific mention of the HEAL Program.  The Geriatric Clinical Pathway is now implemented on 4 units. The Geriatric Clinical Pathway facilitates the implementation of evidence based strategies, resulting in improved quality of care, to a great number of elder patients. 

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See more of The 17th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (19-22 July 2006)