In the last blog we discussed the value of a comprehensive acuity solution that encompasses all of the elements of nursing workload that goes beyond that of just a simple acuity score. In this blog we’ll discuss what AcuityPlus focuses on when it comes to the nursing process and how the workload associated with that unique workflow is captured.
Utilizing Existing Documentation Practices to Measure Acuity
AcuityPlus works behind the scenes by integrating directly with a client’s EHR to pull everything from nursing documentation to physician orders to medication administration, even education elements and procedures. The indicators that are triggered based on this documentation drives workload, and the indicators focus specifically on what nursing does during a patient’s stay in an inpatient setting. While AcuityPlus has five different nursing driven methodologies, the focus today is more on the Inpatient methodology.
Nursing Process Focused Indicators
Nursing is often responsible for much more than simply completing physician orders or giving medication on time. Nurses focus on the physiological, of course, but the focus a nurse has on the psychological or even the social aspects of the care of a patient is just as important.
For example, an indicator in the Inpatient methodology is Emotional and Behavioral Management. This indicator is focused on the whole being and what it takes to manage the emotional and behavioral needs of a patient. A simple example could be that patient who just received devastating news of a life altering diagnosis. By being directly integrated, we capture any and all documentation a nurse might make in regard to what they did to care for that emotional need. This may lead to documentation regarding comforting—maybe there’s a documentation element that goes as granular as holding a patient’s hand—and providing reassurance. These items are crucial to understanding why one patient might need more nursing care than another and are not going to be found in an order-driven acuity tool, or a tool that simply measures tasks.
Another indicator that similarly speaks to our understanding of the nursing process is the indicator related to communication support. Health systems across the country are often interacting with individuals that aren’t native speakers. This, in turn, requires adjustments by nursing staff to maintain a safe and welcoming environment. It may mean incorporating technology and in-person translators to help explain even simple things like a procedure or a new medication that the patient needs. This is work that is often overlooked because many solutions do not integrate like AcuityPlus does. Our solution looks for those differences and incorporates them into the work needed to provide care for a patient.
The Power of a Solution Designed for Nurses, by Nurses
By having a solution that was designed by seasoned nurses from a variety of backgrounds while continuing to have nursing professionals on staff at Harris OnPoint, AcuityPlus is able to validate and continue to refine the ability to capture these processes that would otherwise be overlooked.
Connect with us to learn more about AcuityPlus.
Blog by: Walker Schlundt, BSN RN
The Benefits of an Acuity-Driven Nursing Workload Solution:
