Abstract
In a faith-based rural healthcare clinic located in the south-central part of the United States (US), patient loss to follow-up appointments is the primary problem of the agency. Appointment nonadherence creates an inability to effectively manage patient disease processes which leads to poor patient outcomes. Missing scheduled appointments may also lead to medication nonadherence, increased morbidity, and exacerbation of complications related to the chronic diseases that are prevalent among the clinic's patients (Crutchfield & Kistler, 2020). The purpose of this project is implementation of strategies to decrease the average no show rate of patients at a rural faith-based healthcare clinic. This project was guided by the Iowa Model Revised: Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Excellence in Healthcare (Iowa Model) and the Health Promotion Model (HPM) by Nola Pender. Findings in literature demonstrate the usefulness of case management (CM) in a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) as a method of delivering person-centered care along with building a relationship of trust. These findings led to the adoption of the Care Manager [nurse case manager (NCM)] role and Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant text message (TM) program. The change in practice is adopted by the agency and is sustained through integration within the agency's clinic workflow process with assessment of key indicators annually to assure ongoing quality. Ultimately, the implementation of practice change at this rural healthcare clinic will improve adherence to appointments and ensure that patients have routine access to quality health care. This will lead to improved patient outcomes by creating a PCMH and the secondary desired effect of more efficient utilization of volunteer time and increased satisfaction of the healthcare provider, nurses, and support staff.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Lead Author Affiliation
Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Type
DNP Capstone Project
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Quality Improvement
Research Approach
Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice
Keywords:
Low Income, Case Management, Rural Healthcare Clinic, Appointment No Show, Faith-Based, Text Message, Patient-Centered Medical Home
Advisor
Coleman, Jennifer
Degree
DNP
Degree Grantor
Samford University
Degree Year
2021
Recommended Citation
Bowen, Kelli Jane, "Strategies to improve appointment no show rate at a rural healthcare clinic" (2021). Group: Samford University Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing. 158.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/samford/158
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Rights Holder
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Review Type
None: Degree-based Submission
Acquisition
Self-submission
Date of Issue
2021-08-20
Full Text of Presentation
wf_yes
Description
Acknowledgments: Fannin Health Clinic Board and Volunteers, Charlotte Kearney, Mary Manning, Angela Nelms, and Dianne Lehde as team members