Topic 8 Benchmark: - Capstone Project Change Proposal" UTI in Long -Term Care Facilities
The critical issue of long-term care facilities' lack of established treatment plans for urinary tract infections (UTIs) is addressed by the thesis, position, or objective of my capstone project. Motivated by the goal of improving patient outcomes, reducing rates of morbidity and death, and raising overall quality of life for residents, this project introduces evidence-based, standardized treatment regimens. To enhance nurse practice, allocate resources appropriately, and promote consistent care delivery in the dynamic healthcare environment, the project highlights how important it is to build standardized procedures based on clinical data. With a focus on standardization, the initiative hopes to ensure equitable and effective care for all patients, advancing patient-centered care and higher healthcare standards in long-term care settings.
Background of Clinical Problem
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common problem in long-term care institutions, especially for older patients who are more vulnerable because of things like compromised immune systems, low body weight, and incontinence (Davis & White, 2021; Gajdács et al., 2021). UTIs provide a serious healthcare risk to this population due to these vulnerabilities, which also raise the possibility of repeated infections and the consequences they bring. According to Kumar and Gupta (2020), the absence of established treatment guidelines leads to inconsistent behaviors among healthcare professionals, hence exacerbating management issues.
According to Durham et al. (2020) and Falcone et al. (2020), this unpredictability puts patient outcomes at risk and results in higher rates of morbidity and longer hospital stays. According to Shields et al. (2021) there is a demand for healthcare resources and an increase in the expense of treatment and care. According to Serretiello et al. (2021) there is an additional challenge in maintaining a consistent quality of life for residents due to the unstandardized care regimens. This is because untreated or poorly managed UTIs can lead to discomfort, a reduction in functional capacity, and a general decline in wellbeing. To improve the standard of care in long-term care facilities and guarantee that senior patients receive consistent, evidence-based care that reduces problems, maximizes health outcomes, and enhances their quality of life, it is imperative that this clinical dilemma be addressed.
Clinical Problem Statement
The initiative aims to address the clinical problem of long-term care facilities lacking standard treatment strategies for urinary tract infections (UTIs) (Davis & White, 2021; Kumar & Gupta, 2020; Durham et al., 2020; Gajdács et al., 2021). This shortcoming causes inconsistent care delivery, which raises healthcare expenditures and has a negative impact on patient outcomes (Kovesdy & Kalantar-Zadeh, 2016). According to Falcone et al. (2020) and Serretiello et al. (2021), elderly individuals in these facilities are especially vulnerable to UTIs because of conditions including immobility, incontinence, and weakened immune systems. There could be differences in the diagnosis, beginning of therapy, and follow-up of UTIs if there are no standard procedures in place. This could result in different experiences and levels of care for patients (Hrbacek et al., 2021; Ngowi et al., 2021). Prescription errors, treatment delays, and avoidable adverse events are all made more likely by these variances, endangering patient safety and wellbeing (Shields et al., 2021).
Additionally, as longer treatment times and more resources are needed to manage complications, the absence of standardized care plans raises the cost of healthcare (Van Houtven et al., 2023). In addition to boosting overall patient outcomes and cutting healthcare expenditures in long-term care settings, addressing this clinical issue is essential for increasing the uniformity and efficacy of UTI treatment.
Change Proposal
This modification proposal's main goal is to address the urgent need for long-term care facilities to implement standardized UTI treatment methods. Now, uneven patient outcomes and care delivery are caused by variations in UTI management techniques. The proposal seeks to accomplish several important goals using evidence-based standardized processes. The first goal is to improve patient care by making sure that every resident receives therapy that is consistent and efficient and is grounded on the most recent clinical research (Davis & White, 2021; Kumar & Gupta, 2020). According to Durham et al. (2020) and Gajdács et al. (2021) standardization promotes p