Quality and Outcomes

• Evidence Based Practice
• Nursing Research
• Nursing Research Council
• Nursing Research Highlights
• Current Research Activities
• Past Research Activities
• Performance Improvement
• Excellence in Action 2007
• Centers of Excellence

Evidence Based Practice (EBP)

EBP promotes a clinical environment where the most up to date clinical evidence (derived from either research or best practice initiatives) and clinical expertise is fused to provide the best care for patients.  EBP is seated firmly in our daily practice as evidenced through our policy development, standards of care, patient care delivery models, and quality improvement initiatives. The ARMC Nursing Research Council has obtained permission from the University of IOWA to utilize the IOWA Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Improve Quality Care.  This model provides a guide for clinical decision-making, details regarding implementation of evidence-based practice, and includes both the practitioner and organizational perspective. To find out more about the Iowa model click here.

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Nursing Research

Nursing research is integral to professional practice at AtlantiCare.  Nurses at all levels are involved in research activities to explore, predict and discover practice applications. Nursing research is used as the scientific basis for confirming or enhancing existing knowledge as well as generating new knowledge. The result is validation of existing practice, implementation of changes in practice, and enhanced evidence based provision of patient care.   

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Nursing Research Council

The Nursing Research Councils comprised of nurses at all levels of practice including staff working at the bedside, advanced practice nurses, to executive nursing leaders. We enlist the support of Barbara Chamberlain, DNSc, APN, C, CCRN, WCC as our consultant to the Council.

Purpose: The Nursing Research Council is responsible for promoting the conduct, evaluation, and practice integration of relevant nursing research at ARMC .

Goals:

• Encourage and assist individuals through the research process.
• Oversee the availability of ARMC research resources.
• Facilitate research application submission to the ARMC Institutional Review Board (IRB).
• Assist in the dissemination of research findings.
• Enhance nursing research process knowledge to members of the council and nurses throughout AtlantiCare
• Promote nursing research throughout the Forces of Magnetism

Nursing Research Highlights

• The Council meets on a monthly basis to discuss ongoing research, new initiatives, and plans for the annual research day conference. Additionally, research education is provided by advanced practice experts.
• The Nursing research council chair is a voting member of ARMC’s IRB, several additional IRB members are Clinical Nurse Researchers who also participate in the Nursing Research Council.

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Current research activities

Effects of Smoking Cessation on Psychiatric Inpatients’ Behaviors Using the Nicotine Patch

• Effects of Live Music Therapy in the Hospital Setting
• Effectiveness of IV Catheter Stabilizing Devices on IV Line Function and Longevity
• Attitude and Knowledge of the Emergency Department Staff Regarding the Role of the ED Nurse Practitioner
• A Multifaceted Approach to Reducing Medication Errors

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Past Research studies

• "The Steps to Making Research a Reality" – presented Nationally - 2004
• Pet Therapy in an Acute Care setting
• Barriers to Nursing Research – presented Nationally - 2006
• Participated in the ENA’s LUNAR III study – published 12-07

2008 Research Highlights

• Sponsorship of the 5th Annual Nursing Research Day April 11, 2008 at the Trump Marina Atlantic City. Theme for the day was “Achieving Best Practice through Nursing Research: Taking You Well into the Future

Keynote Speaker: Beth Ann Swan, PhD, CRNP, FAAN
Associate Dean Graduate Program Associate Professor Jefferson School of Nursing

• Over 200 nurses participated in the day long program.
• Nationally renowned speakers presented throughout the day and Research Posters from ARMC staff nurses, academia, and students provided a rich and diverse variety of topics.

Performance Improvement

Nursing at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center is committed to providing safe, state of the art care to all patients. Nursing Services recognizes that nursing is an integral component of the Mission, Vision and Values of the Medical Center and, as such, is dedicated to serving our patients and community.

Nursing quality and performance improvement extends from unit based efforts within specific departments and flows through our council and committee work. We are aligned with organizational structures including the “5 B’s,” Best Quality, Best Finance, Best People and Workplace, Best Community Health, Best Customer Service. We strive to continuously assess and evaluate quality of care, provision of a safe environment for patients, customers, and staff, and adherence to regulating agencies.

We utilize the Plan–Do-Check-Act (PDCA) model to develop, implement, and evaluate performance improvement efforts.

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Excellence in Action 2007

Nurses at all levels of the organization are involved with Quality initiatives. Nursing leadership has created a culture where nurses feel empowered to utilize meaningful data to initiate change in patient care delivery. Nurses are encouraged and rewarded for participating as “champions” and change agents. Champions are mentored in a specific patient care delivery initiative and become experts and consultants to their colleagues. Champions lead colleagues in exploring and strategizing initiatives best suited for their patient populations and unit needs. This integrative approach has created a culture of “ownership,” positive patient outcomes, and staff satisfaction.

Read about some of the organizational achievements:

• AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center was designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services during the fourth quarter of 2007. We are the first and only Comprehensive Stroke Center in southeastern New Jersey.
• ARMC has achieved composite measure scores at the target of 97% for all quarters of 2007. The City and Mainland Campuses were ranked first and second in the State of NJ for results for AMI, Heart Failure and Pneumonia (2007 NJ DOH Hospital Quality Report).
• ARMC received Disease Specific certification from JCAHO for the Joint replacement programs. This makes ARMC one of three hospitals in the state and 13 in the country that have certified programs.
• Maintained designation as a Chest Pain Center by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care.
• Maintained Quality Internet website. Provides consumers with information on Quality at AtlantiCare as well as links to JCAHO, CMS, NJDOH and public report cards.
• Participated in the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators program to benchmark Nurse Sensitive Indicators in the areas of Patient Falls, Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers, Restraint use, Nursing Hours of Care, RN Skill Mix, Pediatric IV Site Infiltrations
• Participated in the New Jersey Hospital Association Pressure Ulcer Prevention Collaborative which ended during the third quarter of 2007. Incidence rate ranked below the National Average set by Hill-Rom.

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Centers of Excellence

AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center is home to many centers of excellence and specialized services.

• The Heart Institute at ARMC is the region's only cardiac surgery center.
• Level II Regional Trauma Center; one of only two in southern New Jersey.
• The Joint Institute 
• The Center for Surgical Weight Loss & Wellness 
• AtlantiCare Women’s Health & Wellness, which includes our state-of-the-art Center for Childbirth

In 2008 AtlantiCare ARMC received accreditation from JCAHO for STROKE with no recommendations for improvement

To find out more about AtlantiCare’s commitment to quality care, click here.

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