1. Health System Quality Improvement.
- Author
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Meehan, Anita, Loose, Claire, Bell, Jvawnna, Partridge, Jamie, Nelson, Jeffrey, and Goates, Scott
- Subjects
PREVENTION of malnutrition ,MALNUTRITION risk factors ,PRESSURE ulcers ,CLINICAL medicine ,DIETARY supplements ,LENGTH of stay in hospitals ,HOSPITALS ,HOSPITAL information systems ,EVALUATION of medical care ,MEDICAL care costs ,MEDICAL protocols ,NURSING ,NURSING practice ,NURSING assessment ,NUTRITIONAL assessment ,HEALTH outcome assessment ,QUALITY assurance ,RISK assessment ,T-test (Statistics) ,THERAPEUTICS ,KEY performance indicators (Management) ,PRE-tests & post-tests ,RETROSPECTIVE studies ,PATIENT readmissions ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,NUTRITIONAL status ,NURSING interventions - Abstract
Among hospitalized patients, malnutrition is prevalent yet often overlooked and undertreated. We implemented a quality improvement program that positioned early nutritional care into the nursing workflow. Nurses screened for malnutrition risk at patient admission and then immediately ordered oral nutritional supplements for those at risk. Supplements were given as regular medications, guided and monitored by medication administration records. Post-quality improvement program, pressure ulcer incidence, length of stay, 30-day readmissions, and costs of care were reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
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