First Advisor

Dunemn, Kathleen

Date Created

8-2017

Abstract

This capstone project was a quality improvement project to reinforce evidence based practice for the care of postpartum women and their infants. The aim of the project was to provide a guideline and tool to allow for assessment of needs, resources available, and ongoing support to promote well-being, improved quality of life, and physical and mental health needs. Research showed postpartum care in the United States has been found to be fragmented with communication deficits between healthcare providers including maternal and pediatric providers and patients (American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists [ACOG], 2016). Patients who attended a scheduled postpartum visit reported not receiving enough information or education at their postpartum visit with regard to “postpartum depression, birth spacing, healthy eating, the importance of exercise, or changes in their sexual response and emotions” (AGOG, 2016, p. 2). This fragmented care results in the mother uncertain of her future healthcare needs, timing, and potential risk factors adversely affecting her health and future pregnancies. At the postpartum visit, providers should assist the patient to identify “who will assume primary responsibility for her ongoing care in her primary care medical home” (ACOG, 2016, p. 4). This should also include documentation for the patient or other healthcare providers iv including pregnancy complications, risks, timing, and intervals of future medical needs such as contraception or family planning, cervical cancer screening pap smear, diabetes screening, cholesterol screening, as well as any other ongoing treatments for health issues such as thyroid disorder or depression. This would allow the patient to be fully aware of her health conditions, ongoing health care needs, and care coordination. The project was developed with the use of a Delphi method and process to create the tool and practice guideline. Staff from Kaiser Permanente’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Departments within metro Denver were surveyed with the use of Delphi questionnaires. Once the tool and guideline were created, the quality department must approve the guideline and implementation shall occur within Kaiser Permanente’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Departments. Implementation was not accomplished by the completion of this capstone project due to the prolonged time of the quality department’s approval. Once implementation occurs, a brief survey will be conducted of healthcare providers within several weeks of use to determine effectiveness and changes that might need to be made. The Stetler (2001) model provided the framework of this project to assure appropriate evidence-based medicine was incorporated into nursing practice once determined effective.

Keywords

Postpartum care; Evidence-based practice; Needs assessment

Extent

90 pages

Local Identifiers

ClaggettCapstone2017

Rights Statement

Copyright is held by the author.

Download

Share

COinS