Evidence Based Practice Proposal Paper

Evidence Based Practice Proposal Part 1 B

There are many best practices that are currently in use throughout the country to reduce readmissions to hospitals. However, the best evidence for my proposal is based on guidelines from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) which focus and initiatives are to reduce excessive readmissions and encourage health care providers to implement interventions to improve the health of their patients while decreasing costs (Adeoye & Pineo, 2014). CMS uses the Interact 4, SBARs and Care Paths to help nurses communicate change in status of residents to physician, or Nurse Practitioner (NP). The Interact is a great strategy for preventing readmissions of skilled nursing centers residents (Toles, 2012),

Moreover, many skilled centers are implementing a program to employ ARNPs who can assess patients within twenty- four hours of admissions, review discharge medications, and order diagnostic exams to analyze patient’s condition, and to implement interventions that would reduce the risk of readmissions within thirty days. This approach for reducing avoidable readmissions has been very effective when there is a working collaboration between the physician and the NP (Toles, 2012). Another approach that can help to reduce readmissions is to implement strategies to improve communication and education of staff. According to Goins, (2012), long- term care is changing; staff needs to change as well because higher acuity necessitates higher education and communication skills from the staff. Fortunately, CMS noted the change in long- term care, consequently, they implemented the Interact tools to improve prompt recognition of change in status, assessment, and communication of changes in condition efficiently to the physician (Goins, 2012). Furthermore, the Interact promotes continuing education for nurses, elevates standards of care, enhances the quality of care, and decreases avoidable hospital transfers (Goins,