Improving Education and Communication in an Assisted Living Facility to Reduce Avoidable Emergency Department Transfers: A Quality Improvement Project

Abstract

The purpose of the current project was to determine the effectiveness of training and communication tools used as intervention strategies to reduce unnecessary emergency department transfers of assisted living facility (ALF) residents. Two communication protocols (SBAR and STOP and WATCH) were introduced to standardize clinical communication among licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and clinical providers. Twenty-nine LPNs working in an ALF with 172 units were recruited. LPNs participated in an intervention intended to improve knowledge on geriatric syndromes. Pre- and postintervention testing revealed improved LPN knowledge of geriatric syndromes. A satisfaction survey indicated positive LPN acceptance of the standardized communication tools. Through daily auditing of charts, adherence with use of the SBAR tool was 87%. This evidence-based, educational intervention project aimed to improve nursing staff geriatric knowledge, monitor nurse adherence to using the SBAR and STOP and WATCH tools, and assess overall satisfaction with use of SBAR. [ Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 45 (5), 23–29.]