Mary Jo Vetter

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This column shares the best evidence-based strategies and innovative ideas on how to facilitate the learning and implementation of EBP principles and processes by clinicians as well as nursing and interprofessional students. Guidelines for submission are available at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1741-6787.

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Background: Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) at the point of care are evidence-based interventions that have demonstrated incremental positive impact on quality of healthcare delivery over the past two decades. Existing best practices inform strategies to promote adoption and achievement of targeted outcomes. The purpose of this improvement project was to conduct a pilot implementation to understand the contextual factors and readiness for dissemination of a newly acquired electronic CDSS by evaluating its influence on diagnostic accuracy in nurse practitioners (NPs) functioning in a community health setting. Aims: The specific aims of this project were to measure and compare diagnostic accuracy in a pilot group before and after CDSS use, educate clinicians about the system and pilot its use, and then leverage the experience to design the practice-wide CDSS dissemination strategy. Methods: The project engaged a subset of NPs from a home-based primary care practice and other organizational stakeholders who provided tangible support and necessary resources for successful adoption of this innovation in practice. A structured conceptual model of Evidence-Based Practice Improvement enhanced with elements of the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Sciences framework was used to guide the development, implementation and evaluation of this practice improvement initiative. A group of seven NP representatives of the practice participated in the project. Data collection was composed of small tests of change (plan-do-study-act) cycles at the local practice level, measuring achievement of improvement of the chosen outcome of correctness of medical diagnosis evidenced by appropriate substantiating clinical documentation. Linking evidence to action: In this home visiting primary care practice setting, use of a CDSS by NPs achieved eventual improvement in diagnostic accuracy and clinical documentation, as demonstrated on chart audit, though the improvement was not sustained over time. The pilot findings ultimately informed decision making about CDSS dissemination strategies and future uses of the system. When appropriately deployed, a CDSS offers the potential to improve professional practice, support differential diagnosis and evidence-based treatment, and provide detailed information about the disease state to facilitate robust clinical documentation.

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Although evidence-based practice (EBP) improves health care quality, decreases costs, and empowers nurses, there is a paucity of intervention studies designed to test models of how to enhance nurses' use of EBP. Therefore, the specific aim of this study was to determine the preliminary effects of implementing the Advancing Research and Clinical practice through close Collaboration (ARCC) model on nurses' EBP beliefs, EBP implementation behaviors, group cohesion, productivity, job satisfaction, and attrition/turnover rates. A 2-group randomized controlled pilot trial was used with 46 nurses from the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. The ARCC group versus an attention control group had stronger EBP beliefs, higher EBP implementation behaviors, more group cohesion, and less attrition/turnover. Implementation of the ARCC model in health care systems may be a promising strategy for enhancing EBP and improving nurse and cost outcomes.

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This article presents a new model, Evidence-Based Practice Improvement, for improving patient care. The model merges 2 extant paradigms currently used for quality improvement initiatives-evidence-based practice and practice or performance improvement. The literature expounds on the virtues of each of these approaches, yet no authors have moved beyond parallel play between them. The merged model, Evidence-Based Practice Improvement, may provide a more effective and practical approach to reach our quality goals.

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The purpose of this article is to describe the development and implementation of a shared position with a focus on evidence-based practice (EBP) between the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and the Lienhard School of Nursing, Pace University. A preexisting relationship between the two institutions in providing student experiences in a community setting paved the way for the evolution a new collaborative effort. The shared position was initially conceived by two of the authors as an outcome of research they were conducting in the home care setting, which tested a model of mentoring frontline nurses in the EBP process on health care professional and patient outcomes. An initial conception of the new role provided a working document for discussions between the two institutions and the creation of a workable contract. The implementation of several initiatives has already provided support for the position, and each partner has benefited from building this bridge between nursing education and service. Benefits include advancing knowledge of and implementing EBP in both settings and promoting collaborative, clinically related scholarship.

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Researchers at Johns Hopkins University conducted a randomized clinical trial to test the effect of nurse case management and community health worker interventions on diabetes control among inner city African Americans. The results demonstrated that the greatest improvement occurred when nurse case managers and community health workers worked together. This study has implications for how nurse/home health aide collaboration can enhance diabetes management in home care.