HQIN is presenting an educational series tailored for nursing home stand-up meetings, aimed at decreasing preventable emergency room (ED) visits and hospital readmissions. HQIN is sending out talking points that can be included in daily stand-up meetings to increase staff knowledge on relevant topics like effective communication, adverse drug events and infection prevention. The program is designed to empower nursing home staff with practical knowledge to foster a safer environment.
This week is the final week of the series. This week’s strategies include Purposeful Conversations. Below is an overview of information and resources.
- Purposeful conversation refers to intentional and meaningful communication that serves specific objectives or goals. It goes beyond casual chitchat and aims to achieve specific outcomes.
Print and discuss with the team the following resource, Go to the Hospital or Stay Here. Social services staff or nurses can use this decision guide to facilitate clear and informative conversations of a resident’s choice to “Go to the Hospital or Stay Here.” - Do all of your residents have a documented advanced directive? Review which residents are a full code, and which are a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR). Discuss how staff know which residents are DNR and what the current process is to communicate this to all staff.
Print and discuss Education on CPR for Residents/Patients and their Representatives with the clinical team to guide conversations when providing education for residents and their family.
Advanced directives should be reviewed upon admission, quarterly, and if a change in condition would warrant it. Use this Advance Care Planning Tracking Form to assist with tracking these reviews.
- It is often helpful to involve the physician or healthcare provider, in addition to the resident and their family, in purposeful conversations during care plan meetings. You may want to have an ad hoc care plan meeting if a decline in condition is noted. Discuss with the team the importance of being proactive with change in condition. Consider inviting the physician or nurse practitioner to participate in a care plan meeting to participate in difficult conversations.
Print and discuss A Patient’s Guide to Serious Illness Conversations from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement to guide these conversations.
- Advanced care planning for vaccinations is a best practice. The Planning for COVID-19 Care Conversation Tool can assist with having purposeful conversations centered around vaccinations upon admission and at quarterly care plan meetings. Print and share the same resource with the admissions and clinical care plan team and discuss how it can be incorporated into current practice.