Boost Your Practice: Lessons from a Social Work-Led Quality Improvement Intervention
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought numerous challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, necessitating rapid innovation and adaptation. One significant area of focus has been the completion of Medical Durable Power of Attorney (MDPOA) forms for hospitalized patients. A recent study titled Increasing Medical Power of Attorney Completion for Hospitalized Patients During the COVID Pandemic: A Social Work Led Quality Improvement Intervention highlights an effective approach led by social workers to improve MDPOA completion rates.
The Importance of Advance Care Planning
Advance care planning (ACP) is crucial in ensuring that patients receive care that aligns with their values and wishes, especially when they are unable to make decisions themselves. Despite its importance, ACP engagement remains low, particularly in acute care settings. Barriers such as hospital culture, low organizational priority, and lack of accountability often hinder ACP processes.
A Social Work-Led Intervention
The study conducted at the University of Colorado School of Medicine implemented a social work-led intervention to address these barriers. The intervention involved consulting social workers to assist with identifying surrogate decision-makers and completing MDPOA forms for hospitalized patients. This approach utilized change management strategies and was implemented between April and June 2020.
Key Outcomes
- The weekly percentage of admitted patients with completed MDPOA forms increased from a baseline average of 30.1% to 42.8%.
- The intervention demonstrated nonrandom special cause variation, indicating its effectiveness.
- The use of change management strategies enabled rapid implementation and early success.
Lessons Learned and Implementation Tips
This intervention provides valuable lessons for practitioners looking to improve ACP processes:
- Engage Interdisciplinary Teams: Involve stakeholders from various disciplines who have the resources and commitment to sustain the intervention.
- Utilize Human-Centered Design: Focus on integrating end-users into the design process to ensure practical implementation.
- Implement Change Management Strategies: Address potential resistance by educating teams about the importance of the initiative and providing proactive communication.
- Sustainability and Accountability: Focus on long-term sustainability by expanding ACP discussions beyond hospital settings and integrating accountability measures.
Encouraging Further Research
This study underscores the potential for social work-led interventions in improving ACP processes. Practitioners are encouraged to explore further research and consider similar initiatives in their practice settings. By doing so, they can contribute to more goal-concordant care and better patient outcomes during challenging times like a pandemic.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Increasing Medical Power of Attorney Completion for Hospitalized Patients During the COVID Pandemic: A Social Work Led Quality Improvement Intervention.
