Page 17 - 2016 Nursing Annual Report | Summa Health
P. 17
“The nurses think STEP is amazing.
They’ve seen the marked decrease
in preventable readmissions and the
increased satisfaction in the patient’s
face as they give the discharge
instructions. The nurses are eager to
share the STEP resource with the rest
of the hospital.”
Nursing enters the initial medication list on admission. Outcome
Then a pharmacy assistant comes in and interviews
the patient and family. The assistant finds out what By the end of 2016, 7 West saw preventable readmission
medications the patient is actually taking, the patient’s rates drop from 19.7 percent to 14.9 percent and patient
perception on why they are taking them, how they fill satisfaction scores rise from the 20th to 55th percentile.
them and how compliant they are with their regimen.
They verify the list with the patient’s pharmacy and find Preventable 19.7% Patient 55th
out if the patient picks up their prescriptions on a regular
basis. readmission percentile
rates:
The result is an extremely accurate list of the patient’s Satisfaction:
home medications. This progress has allowed the
pharmacy team to uncover many errors that may have 14.9% 20th
previously been overlooked. At discharge, the pharmacist
reviews the entire list of medications and does a final percentile
check with the patient to make sure they understand all
the instructions. In January 2017, over 900 potential medication errors
were identified and corrected by the pharmacy team.
Bedside nurses remain the primary educators for the These medication errors ranged from duplicate
patient, reviewing what brought them into the hospital medications and duplicate therapies, to medications
and the signs and symptoms to watch for after discharge. patients were no longer taking. Those exemplary results
When the patient is presented their After Hospital Care led to Summa Health receiving the Dr. Frank Dono Best
Plan, the nurse reviews it in an easy to follow manner Practice Award by the Ohio Patient Safety Institute.
and uses teach-back methods to ensure that patients
understand everything that was discussed. In February 2017, the STEP program was initiated on 4
South at Summa Health System – Barberton Campus.
Part of the discharge education is the review of the color- Plans to implement the STEP program system wide are
coded zones included within the After Hospital Care Plan. in the works with the next unit targeted for roll out in late
One example is the Asthma Care Plan. 2017.
“The green zone is you’re taking your medication every “The nurses think STEP is amazing. They’ve seen the
day, you’re following up with your physician, and you’re marked decrease in preventable readmissions and the
feeling good. Yellow is if you’re starting to get a little short increased satisfaction in the patient’s face as they give the
of breath, maybe you’ve been using your rescue inhaler a discharge instructions. The nurses are eager to share the
bit more, and you may be having some chest congestion. STEP resource with the rest of the hospital,” said Deighan.
The After Hospital Care Plan will tell you to make an
appointment with your physician and keep using your
medical devices, so they don’t have to come right back to
the ED. Red is I can’t breathe, call 911. This empowers the
patient to manage their symptoms,” said Deighan.
2016 Nursing Annual Report 17
