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New Jersey
Success
Stories: NEW JERSEY
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- Robert Wood
Johnson University Hospital makes major gains in care for heart attacks,
heart failure and flu. Working with Healthcare Quality Strategies,
Inc., the QIO for New Jersey, RWJ University Hospital enhanced its
clinical information system for computerized physician order entry
(CPOE) and electronic documentation of medications, nursing discharge
instructions, case manager assignment lists, and nursing assessment
triggers to dramatically improve quality of care. These changes resulted
in increased use of computerized reminders that boosted administration
of aspirin at discharge for patients with acute myocardial infarction
( AMI ) by 7.5%; use of mandatory computerized education for all patients
that improved smoking cessation counseling by 35% for AMI patients,
77% for patients with heart failure, and 43% for patients with community
acquired pneumonia; use of computerized reminders and vaccine documentation
that increased influenza screening/vaccination by 380% and pneumococcal
screening/vaccination by 1566% for patients with community acquired
pneumonia; use of computerized instructions that improved discharge
instructions to patients with heart failure by 29%.
- Chestnut
Hill Convalescent Center in Passaic reduces pressure ulcers by almost
50%. Since November 2002, Chestnut Hill has been working with Healthcare
Quality Strategies, Inc. (the New Jersey QIO) to decrease the number
of residents who have pressure ulcers. The nursing home formed an
interdisciplinary team to direct a facility wide effort, examine
tools being used throughout the facility and encourage the involvement
of staff at all levels. Chestnut Hill purchased special mattresses
for residents and has created a quality improvement program that
enhances aides’ commitment to the reduction of pressure ulcers.
The project is run by the aides themselves and includes the completion
of daily flow sheets that record the functioning of adaptive equipment
and the availability of skin integrity products. Chestnut Hill also
stresses weekly monitoring of plan of action activities and monitoring
of residents by staff on all shifts. Staff uses a pressure ulcer
and wound tracking tool that records information, such as areas of
the body affected, origin, stage, pressure-reducing devices, and
progress. The team also has a skin assessment check sheet that is
completed by Certified Nursing Assistants ( CNA ) and reviewed by
nursing staff.
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