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How a Malnutrition Quality Improvement Initiative Furthers Malnutrition Measurement and Care: Results From a Hospital Learning Collaborative
Author(s) -
Valladares Angel F.,
Kilgore Karl M.,
Partridge Jamie,
Sulo Suela,
Kerr Kirk W.,
McCauley Sharon
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1002/jpen.1833
Subject(s) - malnutrition , medicine , health care , intensive care medicine , economics , economic growth
Background Malnutrition in hospitalized patients can adversely affect health outcomes and increase the cost of care. Real‐world strategies are needed for prompt identification and treatment of patients at risk of malnutrition. Objectives The aim of this quality improvement (QI) study was to measure the impact of a nutrition‐focused program on the malnutrition care processes of participating hospitals. Secondary objectives were to determine whether improvements in these nutrition‐related processes reduced hospital readmissions and length of stay (LOS) in patients ≥65 years. Methods A group of 27 US hospitals (“The Collaborative”) implemented the Malnutrition Quality Improvement Initiative (MQii), as guided by a Malnutrition QI Toolkit and 4 electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs), including (1) nutrition screening; (2) nutrition assessment following detection of malnutrition risk; (3) nutrition care plan for patients identified as malnourished after completed nutrition assessment; and (4) documentation of malnutrition diagnoses. Multivariate analyses identified the variables best correlated with patient outcomes. Results Improvements were observed for all 4 eCQMs. The greatest improvements were achieved as a result of timely nutrition assessment ( P = .06) and malnutrition diagnosis ( P = .02). Patients ≥65 years with a malnutrition diagnosis and nutrition care plan had a 24% lower likelihood of 30‐day readmission but a longer mean LOS than did those without a care plan. Conclusions In this study, the implementation of MQii practices significantly improved the identification of malnutrition. The prompt identification and treatment of patients at malnutrition risk can improve patient care and health, as well as reduce costly readmissions.