Timely Access to Home Health: Quality Improvement Project

Abstract

Timely admission to home care within 48 hours of a referral from the patient's physician is crucial for improving patient outcomes and reducing readmission rates. Evidence-based research indicates that prompt initiation of home health care can lead to positive health outcomes and decrease complications. This project explores the impact of timely admission within 48 hours, highlighting the benefits, challenges, and strategies for achieving this goal. Objective: The project's overarching goal was to improve the timely initiation of care among the home health agency's patients within 48 hours of physician referrals. Methods: The PDSA (plan-do-study-act) was the theoretical framework used in this project. This performance improvement project implementation was piloted over five months and started in January 2024. It included three steps: pre-test, education, and post-test on correctly answering the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Outcome and Information Set (OASIS) questions in January 2024. Additionally, education was provided in-person or online on obtaining accurate and complete supplemental orders to preclude delay in admission. Data was collected from the electronic medical records and the Strategic Health Programs (SHP) National Database, a ten percent sample of all referrals. A paired t-test was performed. Results: Descriptive statistics showed that 98% of patients were admitted within 48 hours in May and June. There was an improvement in the scores, but they did not meet the threshold for statistical significance per the paired t-test. Conclusion: Patients who received home health care within 48 hours had improved patient care experience than those who experienced delays. Ensuring that patients receive home health care within 48 hours was essential for improving patient outcomes, preventing complications, and enhancing patient satisfaction.