Key result
Implementation of a nurse discharge navigator was associated with a steady decline in overall heart failure readmission rates from 24.05% to 11.11% during the project implementation.
Why the study?
Does a nurse discharge navigator reduce 30-day readmissions in high-risk heart failure and sepsis patients?
Does a nurse discharge navigator reduce 30-day readmissions in high-risk heart failure and sepsis patients?
Implementation of a nurse discharge navigator was associated with a steady decline in overall heart failure readmission rates during the project period.
Nurse discharge navigator may reduce HF readmissions; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of a nurse discharge navigator on reducing 30-day readmissions for the heart failure and sepsis populations. PRIMARY PRACTICE SETTING: The 238-bed community hospital in central Virginia is part of a health care system that encompasses 13 acute care facilities. METHODOLOGY AND SAMPLE: The aim of this project was to identify, implement, and evaluate the transition of care of high-risk readmission patients from January 2019 to April 2019. Inclusion criteria included patients who were 55 years and older, English speaking, diagnosed with heart failure and/or sepsis, discharged to home with or without home health, and/or consults received from case management and social services. Forty-one potential participants were identified with 28 consented. Readmission data were collected pre- and postintervention. The pre-/postanalysis consisted of descriptive statistics, readmission rates, and cost avoidance. RESULTS: Out of the 28 participants, 7 participants were readmitted within 30 days. The heart failure readmission rates during the project implementation were as follows: January 24.05%, February 20%, March 19.75%, and April 11.11%. After the project completion the readmission rates were 22.97% for May and 26.03% for June, respectively. The potential cost avoidance with sustained gain from the project is $405,316.00. IMPLICATIONS FOR CASE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE: This project demonstrated that a discharge navigator had an effect on 30-day readmissions for high-risk heart failure and sepsis populations, as evident by a steady decline in overall heart failure readmission rate during project implementation. The sepsis population needs further research. The discharge navigator project added to the body of knowledge for comprehensive discharge planning, coordination, and education that is needed for these types of patient populations that have a great deal of medical complexity.
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Weeks et al. (2020) studied Heart failure and sepsis (n=28). Nurse discharge navigator vs. Pre-intervention was evaluated on 30-day readmissions. Implementation of a nurse discharge navigator was associated with a steady decline in overall heart failure readmission rates from 24.05% to 11.11% during the project implementation.
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