Improving provision rate of asthma action plans using a team-based approach: A primary care based quality improvement project

34^th International Nurse Education & Nurse Specialist Conference

November 08-09, 2017 | New Orleans, USA

Lynne M Hutchison

University of South Carolina-Beaufort, USA

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Adv Practice Nurs

Abstract :

Improved outcomes for patients with asthma have been demonstrated through the use of written asthma action plans [AAPs]. Despite the research and guideline recommendations that support the use of AAPs, healthcare providers do not routinely use these plans. This project evaluated the effect an education program on the principles of team-based care had upon the provision rate of AAPs written by healthcare teams in the primary care setting. The teams in this project were working within a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model of care delivery. This project was conducted using a quantitative, quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design. The population (n=49) was members of seven health care teams consisting of medical assistants, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians. All attended an educational in-service and were introduced to the concepts of team-based care as well as a workflow process change. One month post education, retrospective chart audit was conducted to determine if there was a percentage change in the provision rate of AAPs. All teams showed an increase in the provision rate of AAPs. Only two teams achieved the National goal of 37% provision rate of AAPs to patients with asthma. This project demonstrated the effectiveness of an education program and workflow process change on the provision rate of AAPs. Nurses, especially those prepared at the advanced education level, are well suited to lead such practice changes. Implications from this project include the need for further study to determine if the composition of teams has an effect upon the provision rate of AAPs, the role of nurse lead teams, and long-term health measures for patients who receive a written asthma action plan.