Date of Graduation

Fall 12-17-2021

Document Access

Project/Capstone - Global access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

First Advisor

Susan Mortell DNP, RN, CNL

Second Advisor

Robin Jackson MSN, MA, RN, OCN, CNL

Abstract

Problem: Hospital readmission rates are one of the quality metrics that matter for hospital reimbursements. In a large Northern California healthcare system, the postpartum readmission rate is often above the national average.

Context: The hospital designated as the main location for high-risk deliveries within a 30-mile radius has an Acute Care Obstetric postpartum population where twenty percent of the patients are at an increased risk for readmission.

Interventions: The project implemented the use of a standardized discharge teaching script and educational materials to be used by nursing staff throughout the patient’s hospital stay to see if multimodal standardization leads to a reduction in postpartum readmissions.

Measures: Process measures of verification of staff completion of their assigned teaching intervention was collected by assessing discharge note completion via chart audits. Outcome measures of readmission data were collected by personal communication with the postpartum unit managers with the aim of measuring the impact of the implementation of the educational interventions on the readmission rate. Balancing measures included not all staff completing the discharge teaching or the discharge notes due to failure to review all or part of the discharge teaching or lack of time to chart.

Results: The implementation of the use of discharge teaching scripts began January 1st, 2021. Six months after the implementation the readmission rate decreased from 2.2% to less than 1%.

Conclusion: There is a reduction in postpartum readmissions when patients receive standardized discharge education.

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