Meehan A, Loose C, Bell J, Partridge J, Nelson J, Goates S, et al.
Journal of nursing care quality. Date of publication 2016 Jul 1;volume 31(3):217-23.
1. J Nurs Care Qual. 2016 Jul-Sep;31(3):217-23. doi: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000177.
Health System Quality Improvement: Impact of Prompt Nutrition Care on Patient
Outcomes and Health Care Costs.
Meehan A(1), Loose C, Bell J, Partridge J, Nelson J, Goates S.
Author information:
(1)NICHE Program (Ms Meehan) and Food & Nutrition Department (Ms Loose),
Cleveland Clinic-Akron General, Akron, Ohio; and Health Economics and Outcomes
Research (Ms Bell and Drs Partridge and Goates) and Nutrition Science (Dr
Nelson), Abbott Nutrition Research and Development, Columbus, Ohio.
Among hospitalized patients, malnutrition is prevalent yet often overlooked and
undertreated. We implemented a quality improvement program that positioned early
nutritional care into the nursing workflow. Nurses screened for malnutrition risk
at patient admission and then immediately ordered oral nutritional supplements
for those at risk. Supplements were given as regular medications, guided and
monitored by medication administration records. Post-quality improvement program,
pressure ulcer incidence, length of stay, 30-day readmissions, and costs of care
were reduced.
DOI: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000177
PMID: 26910129 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
