Abstract

Problem: In heart failure patients that were readmitted within 30 days of discharge, does identifying demographic and individual characteristics provide data that can enhance discharge education and planning for future prevention of readmissions? Intervention: Hospital readmissions related to heart failure greatly affect patients' disease prognosis, health maintenance, and overall quality of life. Frequent readmissions to the hospital can increase morbidity and mortality significantly. To identify common characteristics among readmitted heart failure patients a retrospective chart review was completed.

Measures: Patients readmitted to the hospital within 30 days with a primary diagnosis of heart failure were assessed. Patient's age, gender, zip code, and readmission risk score were analyzed.

Results: Sixty-nine patients were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days with a primary diagnosis of heart failure. Females aged 60 to 69 that live in zip code 64119 were most frequently readmitted to the hospital. The average readmission risk score was 4 with the following risk factors as most prevalent among the study population: problems with medications, poor health literacy, and prior hospitalizations.

Conclusions: The data provides key information allowing staff nurses to quickly identify heart failure patients who are most at-risk for being readmitted within 30-days of discharge and provide interventions aimed to mitigate this. The participating facility can use this information to develop discharge instructions or materials to specifically address at-risk populations.

Katie E. Bedard

Author Details

Katie E. Bedard, BSN, RN

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Lead Author Affiliation

Nebraska Methodist College, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Type

DNP Capstone Project

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Other

Research Approach

Qualitative Research

Keywords:

Heart Failure, Hospital Readmissions, Interventions

Advisor

Krumbach, Jillian

Degree

DNP

Degree Grantor

Nebraska Methodist College

Degree Year

2022

Rights Holder

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All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Faculty Approved: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Self-submission

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