Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects
Access Control
Open Access
Embargo Period
10-22-2018
Degree Program
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Degree Track
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Year Degree Awarded
2018
Month Degree Awarded
May
Keywords
behavioral health, bipolar disorder, readmissions, interventions, discharge planning
Advisor
Dennis Callahan
DNP Project Chair
Dr. Gabrielle Abelard
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this DNP project was to evaluatea discharge protocol with interventions to improve the process of discharge from the in-patient setting and transition the patient into the community.
Methods: This program evaluation centered on evaluating a discharge protocol currently in place and adding revised interventions to strengthen the discharge planning process. De-identified data was viewed on readmission rates and interviews were conducted with stakeholders involved with the discharge process.
Results: There were a total of twelve participants in the evaluation period of pre and post evaluation interviews. Review of the interviews resulted in four themes relating to the discharge protocol; lack of facility resources, lack of insurance, homelessness, and need for discharge planning. Chart reviews of de-identified data of patients admitted with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder revealed that 32.8% of all patients with bipolar disorder were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Additionally, Bipolar disorder was thesecond most common diagnosis with readmissions within a 30-day timeframe for this facility.
Conclusion: Readmissions in the psychiatric realm, occur when there are not proper interventions that prevent the patient from re-entering the hospital. A structured discharge protocol with interventions geared towards preventing relapse will help decrease the readmission rate.
Keywords: behavioral health, bipolar disorder, readmissions, interventions, discharge planning
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