Assessment 4: Patient, Family, or Population Health Problem Solution
Develop an intervention (your capstone class project), as a solution to the patient, family, or population problem you’ve defined. Submit the proposed intervention to the faculty for review and approval. This solution needs to be implemented (shared) with your patient, family, or group. You are not to share your intervention with your patient, family, or group or move on to Assessment 5 before your faculty reviews/approves the solution you submit in Assessment 4. In a separate written deliverable, write a 5–7 page analysis of your intervention.
Introduction
In your first three assessments, you applied new knowledge and insight gleaned from the literature, from organizational data, and from direct consultation with the patient, family, or group (and perhaps with subject matter and industry experts) to your assessment of the problem. You’ve examined the problem from the perspectives of leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, policy, quality of care, patient safety, costs to the system and individual, technology, care coordination, and community resources. Now it’s time to turn your attention to proposing an intervention (your capstone class project), as a solution to the problem.
Preparation
In this assessment, you’ll develop an intervention as a solution to the health problem you’ve defined. To prepare for the assessment, think about an appropriate intervention, based on your work in the preceding assessments, that will produce tangible, measurable results for the patient, family, or group. In addition, you might consider using a root cause analysis to explore the underlying reasons for a problem and as the basis for developing and implementing an action plan to address the problem. Some appropriate interventions include the following:
- Creating an educational brochure.
- Producing an educational voice-over PowerPoint presentation or video focusing on your topic.
- Creating a teaching plan for your patient, family, or group.
- Recommending work process or workflow changes addressing your topic.
Plan to spend at least 3 direct practicum hours working with the same patient, family, or group.
In addition, you may wish to complete the following:
- Review the assessment instructions and scoring guide to ensure that you understand the work you will be asked to complete and how it will be assessed.
- Conduct sufficient research of the scholarly and professional literature to inform your work and meet scholarly expectations for supporting evidence.
Instructions
Complete this assessment in two parts: (a) develop an intervention as a solution to the problem and (b) submit your proposed intervention, with a written analysis, to your faculty for review and approval.
Part 1
Develop an intervention, as a solution to the problem, based on your assessment and supported by data and scholarly, evidence-based sources.
Incorporate relevant aspects of the following considerations that shaped your understanding of the problem:
- Change management.
- Quality of care.
- Patient safety.
- Costs to the system and individual.
- Care coordination.
- Community resources.
Intervention Proposal:
Title: Promoting Medication Adherence in Elderly Patients with Chronic Conditions
Problem Statement: Elderly patients with chronic conditions often struggle with medication adherence, leading to poor health outcomes, increased hospitalizations, and higher healthcare costs. This problem arises due to various factors such as complex medication regimens, cognitive decline, financial constraints, and lack of social support.
Intervention Description: The proposed intervention aims to improve medication adherence among elderly patients with chronic conditions through a multifaceted approach involving education, technology, and community resources.
- Educational Workshops: Organize regular educational workshops for elderly patients and their caregivers focusing on the importance of medication adherence, understanding medication regimens, managing side effects, and strategies for incorporating medications into daily routines. These workshops will be conducted by healthcare professionals including pharmacists, nurses, and physicians to provide comprehensive information and address any questions or concerns.
- Personalized Medication Management Plan: Develop personalized medication management plans for each patient in collaboration with their healthcare team. These plans will outline the patient’s medication regimen, dosages, frequencies, and potential side effects in a clear and understandable format. Additionally, incorporate reminders and prompts tailored to each patient’s preferences and needs (e.g., pill organizers, smartphone apps, automated phone calls) to reinforce medication adherence.
- Community Outreach: Partner with community organizations, senior centers, and local pharmacies to expand outreach efforts and support networks for elderly patients. Establish support groups or peer mentoring programs where patients can share their experiences, tips, and challenges related to medication adherence. Additionally, collaborate with pharmacies to offer medication synchronization services, home delivery options, and medication review sessions to optimize medication management and address any concerns.
- Telehealth and Remote Monitoring: Utilize telehealth platforms and remote monitoring devices to facilitate virtual medication management consultations and follow-ups. Conduct regular check-ins with patients to assess their medication adherence, monitor vital signs, and address any issues or barriers in real-time. Leverage technology to provide ongoing support, education, and motivation to patients and caregivers, especially those who may have limited mobility or transportation access.
Evaluation and Measurement: To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention, measure key metrics such as medication adherence rates, hospitalization rates, medication-related adverse events, and patient satisfaction scores before and after implementation. Conduct surveys, interviews, and focus groups to gather feedback from patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers about their experiences with the intervention and identify areas for improvement.
Conclusion: By implementing this multifaceted intervention, we aim to empower elderly patients with chronic conditions to effectively manage their medications, improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance overall quality of life. Through collaboration with healthcare professionals, community organizations, and leveraging technology, we can address the complex challenges associated with medication adherence in this vulnerable population.