Using Medication Flashcards to Help Improve HCAHPS Scores

Darian Williams, Grace Topham, Macy Martin, Riley Hantin, Trevor Curran
Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

Abstract
Purpose: To find a way to give information in a Data and Analysis of the Issue AIMProposed
- Proposed Solution
Solution Conclusion
comprehensive way by using medical flashcards.
Based on interviews with nurse manager, and review of
These tools can be used to help implement We aim to increase medication education • Issue: There is a lack of reinforcement for
patients, review of 13 survey responses by patients and 6
improve patient satisfaction in their responses by nurses: HCAPHS scores related to medication side medication side effect education as shown by
medical education and decrease information • Nurses spend an average of 10-15 minutes in each room effects from 50% to 60% by December 2023. the reported HCAHPS score of 50%.
overload. on medication education. Hypothesis:
Background: The HCAHPS, Hospital Consumer • 100% of nurses cited using the teach back method or If we use visual aids with teaching, • Data analysis: We collected our data through
Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, is verbalized understanding. then the HCAHPS score for "how often staff and patient interviews, surveys, and
a national standardized, publicly reported survey • The unit has a medication cheat sheet that is reportedly did the nurse educate you on possible side observation of patient medication education.
underutilized. effects in a way you can comprehend”
and data collection methodology for measuring
• Patient responses on time spent on medication
patients’ perceptions of their hospital experience. will increase. • Root Cause: The identified root cause of a
education varied. Most answered frequently or always
It has several key topics, one of (8); 4 responded sometimes or rarely. Proposed Solution: HCAHPS score of 50% at SFMC is lack of
which communication about patients’ medications • Patients are not surveyed on learning style during We propose the use of a medication flashcard medication information reinforcement.
is the focus of this project. (U.S. Centers for admission process. index to promote reinforcement of education
Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2021) • Majority of nurses and nurses stated they would use material. We believe increased access to • Proposed Solution: Medication education will
Proposed Solution: Individual medication individualized medication visual aids. material will improve retention and therefore be provided by a flashcard index that will
flashcards are to be made with simplified Summary of Supporting Litrature: increase HCAPHS scores. contain visual aids for reinforcement.
• Just over half of the nurses interviewed believe that it's
information of commonly administered
medications for both the rooms and patients, post-
important to provide education on refill or old
medications (Bowen et al., 2017)
Stake Holders
discharge. • Most spent an average of 5-9 minutes on medication Logistics
Implication for Practice: Improvement of education per patient (Bowen et al., 2017) • Obtaining list of common medications administered.
References
educational materials and reinforcement can lead • As for time spent on tasks, nurses spend most of their • Printing and creating medication flashcards for rooms and patients for
discharge
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2020,
to better perception of the hospital, improved time charting on patients in EHR (Yen et al., 2018) September). Use the teach-back method: Tool #5. AHRQ. Retrieved
• Nurses' confidence in patient's ability to March 2, 2023, from https://www.ahrq.gov/health-
HCAPHS scores, and lower readmission rates. This literacy/improve/precautions/tool5.html
increases the hospital standing among competitors identify medication and potential side effects
after education: Stakeholders
and lowers overall costs. Bowen, J. F., Rotz, M. E., Patterson, B. J., & Sen, S. (2017). Nurses'
Introduction and Description of •
•
Clinical care lead
Nurses
attitudes and behaviors on patient medication
education. Pharmacy practice, 15(2),
the Issue •
•
Patients
Pharmacists
930. https://doi.org/10.18549/PharmPract.2017.02.930
Macro Description: Hume, K., & Tomsik, E. (2014). Enhancing patient education and
• HCAHPS is a tool used medication reconciliation strategies to reduce readmission
to survey patients' perspectives of hospital care. Potential costs rates. Hospital pharmacy, 49(2), 112–
• Relatively cheap to produce. 114https://doi.org/10.1310/hpj4902-112
This survey includes instrument and data • 4x6 card stock $7.99 per 500 cards
collection tool • Lamination sheets $19.89 per 100 pouches. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2021, December
• 2" book rings- $11.59 per 50
for measuring patients' perceptions of • Laminator $33.49 (if none is available)
1). HCAHPS: Patients' perspectives of care survey. CMS. Retrieved
their hospital experience ( CMS, 2021) • Total Cost: 7 cents per card plus 23 cents per ringlet. (23¢ + 7(n) ¢) March 7, 2023, from https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-
Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-
• The Teach-back method displays that a patient is Instruments/HospitalQualityInits/HospitalHCAHPS
Timeline
receiving information in a way they understand,
• Proposal of idea: 4/4/23
regardless of health literacy (AHRQ,2020). • Proposal brought before Administration: 5/23
Yen, P. H., & Leasure, A. R. (2019). Use and Effectiveness of the
• Medication education is important for patient • Approval of project: 6/23
Teach-Back Method in Patient Education and Health Outcomes.
safety and helps reduce readmission rates (Hume • Survey of most common medications completed: 7/23
• Creation of medication flashcard index: 8/23
Federal practitioner : for the health care professionals of the VA,
& Tomsik, 2014). Root Cause • Implementation on unit: 9/23 DoD, and PHS, 36(6), 284–289.
Micro Description: The Medical Surgical unit of
Based on our analysis of collected data and literature Yen, P. Y., Kellye, M., Lopetegui, M., Saha, A., Loversidge, J., Chipps,
SFMC reported an HCAHPS score of 50% related Data Collection E. M., Gallagher-Ford, L., & Buck, J. (2018). Nurses' Time Allocation
to “how often did the nurse educate you on review, we believe the root cause is a lack of • Patient survey through leader rounds and Multitasking of Nursing Activities: A Time Motion Study. AMIA
possible side effects in a way you can comprehend." reinforcement of medication information during the • Quarterly HCAPHS survey scores ... Annual Symposium proceedings. AMIA Symposium, 2018, 1137–
hospital stay. 1146.