Introduction to the Problem
The number of hospitalizations of patients with heart failure is an urgent problem in the modern healthcare sector. People with this disease make up a large percentage of the population, and for the outcomes of nursing interventions to be positive, the quality of transitional care is to be high. The readmission rate of patients with heart failure depends not only on the severity of the ailment but also on the professionalism of nursing employees. The aim of this work is to draw up a research project plan on the topic of transitional care, in particular, the role of medical personnel in minimizing the readmission rate of patients with heart failure. According to Carthon, Lasater, Sloane, and Kutney-Lee (2015), every fifth of older US citizens with this disease gets into the hospital again within 30 days after discharge (p. 255). Activities aimed at improving nursing assistance may help reduce the number of readmissions and improve the quality of care.
Identification of the Problem
Heart failure is on the list of the most common diseases of the older population. In addition, like Saito, Negishi, and Marwick (2016) argue, this is the key reason for readmissions among people over 65. The need to maintain an appropriate lifestyle and strictly follow all the physicians’ prescriptions complicates the rehabilitation period and creates challenges for both patients and medical staff. In their study, Gupta et al. (2018) estimate mortality from this disease and note that, according to preliminary data, these indicators make up about 7.6% per year of the total number of deaths (p. 44). Given that other chronic diseases also pose a severe threat, the statistics presented are alarming. Therefore, in order to address this problem effectively, it is essential to pay attention to the principles of transitional care maintained in cardiology departments and monitor patient health indicators carefully.
Significance of the Problem to Nursing
The considered problem of the high level of readmissions among patients with heart failure is significant to nursing. Statistics largely depend on the quality of treatment, but, as Carthon et al. (2015) note, one of the issues in this area is missed care. The authors attribute this problem to not only the insufficient qualifications of the junior staff but also to the lack of the workforce for the necessary interventions (Carthon et al., 2015). In those clinical settings where a sufficient number of employees work, missed care cases are less frequent. Other important aspects are also affected, for instance, the level of professional training, the quality of communication and interaction in transitional care, and other criteria that influence the outcomes of interventions (Saito et al., 2016). Accordingly, in order to reduce high readmission rates, addressing the issues of the field of nursing practice is a crucial task.
Purpose of the Research
The key goal of the research work is to determine how improving approaches to transitional care may help minimize readmission rates among patients with heart failure. As accompanying objectives, such nuances are to be considered as the impact of staffing on care quality, as well as employees’ educational level as one of the key factors in medical practice. Based on the aforementioned problems that occur in cardiology departments and carry risks for patients, the work should involve analyzing all the impacts associated with the readmission problem. In order to consider the stated topics, the engagement of relevant academic resources is essential to search for appropriate justifications in support of the proposed interventions and complement the study with valuable findings.
Research Questions
In order to achieve the key goal and accompanying objectives, a few research questions should be posed to coordinate a work plan. Since the topic of high readmission rates among patients with heart failure touches on the nuances of transitional care, the assessment of nurses’ performance should be an integral part of the analysis. The following research questions may help solve the stated issues and address the main topics:
- Can a special intervention program be effective in reducing readmission among patients with heart failure?
- Is the need for a complete set of cardiology departments by junior medical personnel relevant in the context of reducing the level of readmission of patients?
- How much training do the trainers affect the quality of transitional care in the framework of helping patients with heart failure?
- Can an intervention program help improve interaction among healthcare providers to achieve the highest performance results?
Master’s Essentials
To conduct research and realize the set goals effectively, following certain Master’s Essentials is important. In relation to the proposed topic, the principles of collaboration, communication, and coordination may be addressed since transitional care involves effective interaction among medical providers. Creating the conditions for high-quality care can also be achieved through productive negotiations with colleagues in order to use a sufficient number of resources and realize the goals of the work as efficiently as possible. These solutions will be a significant contribution to the work to improve patient outcomes in terms of readmission rates due to heart failure and will become supportive measures for medical personnel.
References
Carthon, J. M. B., Lasater, K. B., Sloane, D. M., & Kutney-Lee, A. (2015). The quality of hospital work environments and missed nursing care is linked to heart failure readmissions: A cross-sectional study of US hospitals. BMJ Quality & Safety, 24(4), 255-263. Web.
Gupta, A., Allen, L. A., Bhatt, D. L., Cox, M., DeVore, A. D., Heidenreich, P. A.,… Fonarow, G. C. (2018). Association of the hospital readmissions reduction program implementation with readmission and mortality outcomes in heart failure. JAMA Cardiology, 3(1), 44-53. Web.
Saito, M., Negishi, K., & Marwick, T. H. (2016). Meta-analysis of risks for short-term readmission in patients with heart failure. The American Journal of Cardiology, 117(4), 626-632. Web.