Improving Communication with Patients with The Daily Plan

Abstract

<p>The Joint Commission has recommended health care providers improve their processes to enhance communication between providers and patients. The concept of shared decision making is a concept to help improve communication among providers, but little research has been done on the topic. The Daily Plan is a program being utilized in several Veterans Administrations to enhance communication between health care providers and patients. The Daily Plan lists pertinent information such as lab tests, procedures, medications, allergies, and emergency contact information. Reviewing the Plan with the patients only takes five to ten minutes. The Daily Plan can lead to successful outcomes, such as improved patient satisfaction, improved staff satisfaction, a decrease in readmission rates, and a safer health care experience for the patient. This project proposal is to implement The Daily Plan on a 30 bed medical telemetry unit at a Veterans hospital. Key components of the clinical nurse leader (CNL) role are to bring evidence-based practice to the bedside, provide clients the knowledge to make informed health care decisions, and improve patient outcomes. This project will be led by a CNL student in the clinical immersion residency of the Wright State University-Miami Valley College of Nursing and Health Clinical Nurse Leader program.</p><p>This presentation occurred at the Wright State University Campus-Wide Celebration of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities on April 8, 2011</p>