SAFER: Standardizing Admissions for Elderly Residents

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

1-1-2012

Keywords

Cutler Institute, Population Health and Health Policy, USM Aging Initiative, Health and Wellness

Abstract

The goal of this project is to improve health outcomes for elderly patients transferred between care facilities. Research shows that care transitions between nursing facilities (NF), emergency medical services (EMS) and critical access hospitals (CAH) carry significant risk for elderly patients stemming from such factors as missing or inaccurate information, infections, poor communication between staff and delayed treatment. This project will provide training and implement processes designed to improve the safety of care transitions and result in better patient outcomes. The demonstration project, sponsored by the Maine Critical Access Hospital Patient Safety Collaborative, will involve 14 small, rural hospitals, EMS systems, and nursing facilities that have committed to implement three specific interventions designed to improve communications, information flow, and patient safety in the transition of care for elderly NF residents to the hospital Emergency Department (ED). The interventions will include process mapping and appreciative inquiry of current handoffs, training in communication skills, and the development and implementation of transfer tools such as checklists and universal forms. In addition, the project will assist stakeholders in aligning interests, evaluate feasibility of implementation, avoid duplication of efforts, and increase wide-spread adoption of the safe practices.

Comments

Presentations

AHRQ Annual Conference, Bethesda, MD

Tupper, J., Gray, C., Pearson, K., & Coburn, A. (2012, September 12). SAFER: Standardizing admissions for elderly residents. Presented at the AHRQ Annual Conference, Bethesda, MD.

National Patient Safety Foundation 14th Annual Patient Safety Congress, National Harbor, MD

Tupper, J., Gray, C., Pearson, K., & Coburn, A. (2012. SAFER: Standardizing admissions for elderly residents. Presented at the National Patient Safety Foundation 14th Annual Patient Safety Congress, National Harbor, MD.

Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infectious Disease Conference, Augusta, ME

Tupper, J., Gray, C., Pearson, K., & Coburn, A. (2012. SAFER: Standardizing admissions for elderly residents. Presented at the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infectious Disease Conference, Augusta, ME.

AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting, Orlando, FL

Tupper, J., Gray, C., Pearson, K., & Coburn, A. (2012. SAFER: Standardizing admissions for elderly residents. Presented at the AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting, Orlando, FL.

National Rural Health Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO

Coburn, A., Tupper, J., Gray, C., & Pearson, K. (2012. SAFER: Standardizing admissions for elderly residents. Presented at the National Rural Health Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS