ATLANTA, Ga. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — More than 34 million people will be admitted into a hospital this year throughout the United States. Although the average stay is five days, that’s just the beginning of the recovery process. The NIH reports 15 percent of discharged elderly patients end up back at the hospital. A Harvard study found half of all patients who were discharged had medication errors when they went home. That’s just one of the major hurdles patients face. Now, one hospital is hoping to change that by creating healthcare coaches to guide patients who are recovering at home. Martie salt has the details of Patients’ Recovery.
Fly fishing has been a part of Tom Brown’s life for, well, his entire life. “The charm of fly fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable.” Tom says.
But this year’s annual fishing trip almost didn’t happen. Tom explains, “I was experiencing some dizziness and some lightheadedness.”
Tom needed immediate bypass surgery. He was in the hospital for nine days.
Rebecca Heitkam, RN, Special Dir., Congregational Health Ministry/Nursing Support at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital says, “The most frustrating thing is that once the patients go home from the hospital, the same lifestyle behavior that could have contributed to or actually caused the chronic health condition is the same thing that they go back to.”
That’s why she is leading a new nursing program at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital to help with patients’ recovery.
Heitkam explains, “We are trying to combine our nursing experience and expertise with health coaching.”
Specially trained nurses connect one-on-one with discharged patients for 12 weeks, making sure they are taking their meds, going to all follow-up medical appointments, and providing weekly lifestyle and health coaching.
“If they would just take one small step this week and we can help walk them through this week until they have a success.” Says Heitkam.
She says re-admission rates decreased upwards of 50 percent so far and ER visits decreased 60 percent.
Kathryn Moore, MA RN, Ethics Nurse Liaison at Emory Healthcare System explains, “You’re constantly accountable to each other. You are calling that person, they’re calling you.”
Nurse Kathryn Moore is Tom’s nurse liaison. She says, “He was not happy about the limitations. No cardiac patient is.”
Brown says, “I feel like they, that Kathryn was responsive, you know, and she knew to lean this way or push over in this direction.”
With consistent contact, Kathryn was able to learn what was important to Tom. Specifically, his annual fishing trip!
Tom made it – waders and all!
The new initiative is part of a larger program which began in 2017, where each year nurses are trained on post-discharge transitional care management. So far, more than 430 nurses have participated in the course to assist with patients’ recovery.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor and Matt Goldschmidt, Videographer.
Sources:
https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2023/05/Fast-Facts-on-US-Hospitals-2023.pdf
HOSPITAL TO HOME: NURSES HELP NAVIGATE THEIR PATIENTS’ RECOVERY
REPORT #3136
BACKGROUND: Medication errors represent a significant and often preventable threat to patient safety, with potentially serious consequences. A lot of attention has been given to errors that occur within hospital settings; however, there is growing concern regarding medication errors that occur after patients are discharged. Post-discharge medication errors can have severe implications for patient’s well-being, leading to readmissions, worsened health outcomes, and increased healthcare costs. The transition from inpatient to outpatient care is a critical period during which miscommunications, misunderstandings, and other factors can contribute to medication-related issues. Medication errors post-discharge can have serious consequences for patient health and well-being, leading to complications, hospital readmissions, and increased healthcare costs. With over 34 million people hospitalized last year, up to 25 percent of patients can experience serious medication at-home errors. To address and prevent medication errors after patient discharge, healthcare systems can implement comprehensive medication reconciliation, patient education, enhanced communication, medication therapy management, and post-discharge follow-up.
(Source: https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2023/05/Fast-Facts-on-US-Hospitals-2023.pdf
THE STUDY: Medical professionals out of Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital have created healthcare coaches to help guide patients who are discharged and continuing their journey and recovering at home. Rebecca Heikam fronted a new nursing program out of Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital that allows specially trained nurses to check in on discharged patients for up to twelve weeks to ensure they are safely and properly taking their medications, attending all proper follow-up medical appointments, and participating in their weekly provided life and health wellness coaching.
(Source: https://news.emory.edu/stories/2023/07/esjh_fcn_wellness/story.html
NEW REGULATIONS: The ISMP Medication Safety Alert regulations state “The Five Rights.” These are a set of broadly stated expectations in place to help achieve safe medication practices. The idea and beliefs are that these five rights will help ensure that patients are given the correct medication, at the correct dosage, the correct time, and the correct route. Healthcare practitioners are also instructed on the five rights and are expected to instruct patients accordingly as well.
(Source: https://www.ismp.org/resources/implement-strategies-prevent-persistent-medication-errors-and-hazards
* For More Information, Contact: Josh Brown
joshua.g.brown@emoryhealthcare.org
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