All Community Nursing Projects
Title of project:
The Acute Demand (Hospital in the Home) service: the relationship between patterns of care and the outcomes for clients
Funding body: Campbell Ballantyne Fellowship 2009, Nurse Maude Foundation. Project being undertaken in partnership with Pegasus Health, Christchurch.
Project description: This study involves a retrospective audit to investigate the variation in care and patient outcomes of patients treated in the community for cellulitis, and whether this variation can be explained by patient characteristics and factors related to care. It will examine aspects of the healthcare pathway and assess the relationship between variable-related outcomes, such as length of treatment , co-morbidities and hospitalisations. The audit may provide information on how and where patient outcomes can be improved, and identify barriers to care, whether it relates to treatment, access or self-care. Additionally there may be an increased understanding of the role of case management around the healthcare of specific client groups or populations (such as those living alone or with specific comorbidities). The data sources will be the patient’s health care records involving the routine collection of data required for that episode of acute illness.
Project update: The project commenced in January 2009 with a three month pilot audit of health records which identified the need for a better tool to record patient/treatment variables. Analysis of these records indicated patients who were obese or with other morbidities (e.g. diabetes, cardiac heart failure) were not healing at the same rate as other patients and requiring longer treatment of intravenous antibiotics. This was discussed with the Medical Director of Acute Demand service and the antibiotic dosage for cellulitis treatment was increased in obese patients. Collection of data then began in March 2009 and will be completed in March 2010. The data is being entered into SPSS for statistical analysis.
Project outcomes: Antibiotic dosage increased for obese patients based on the outcomes of the pilot audit.
National Care Management conference, Wellington, March 2009. Acute Nursing Care Team: an audit of case management and improvements to client outcomes. Presented by Sandi Evans.
4th International Community Health Nursing Research, August 2009. Clinical Audit as a means of validating or refuting nurses’ intuition about the efficacy of care options for patient s in the community with acute cellulitis. Presented by Sandi Evans and Chris Hendry
Ministry of Health (2009). Clinical Audit as a means of validating or refuting nurses’ intuition about the efficacy of care options for patient s in the community with acute cellulitis. Wellington: Author. Available from: www.moh.govt.nz
Further information: Lead researcher – Sandi Evans, Acute Demand Nurse, Nurse Maude
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Title of project:
Clinical audit as a method of validating or refuting nurses’ ‘intuition’ about the efficacy of care options for patients in the community with acute cellulitis – published report
Funding body: Ministry of Health
Project description: this report summarises the results of a pilot 3 month audit of patient and treatment outcomes for patients receiving intravenous antibiotic therapy for cellulitis at home. The report identifies the profile of the patient group and treatment outcomes related to obesity and other co-morbidities.
Project outcomes: Ministry of Health (2009). Clinical Audit as a means of validating or refuting nurses’ intuition about the efficacy of care options for patient s in the community with acute cellulitis. Wellington: Author. Available from: www.moh.govt.nz or contact the NZICHC on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Further information: Lead researcher – Sandi Evans, Acute Demand Nurse, Nurse Maude
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A service of ‘last resort’: the outcomes of a specialist paediatric continence service at Nurse Maude, Christchurch – published report
Funding body: Ministry of Health
Project description: This report provides a case study illustrating the role of the specialist paediatric continence service at Nurse Maude. It highlights the assessment, education and treatment plans that are tailored to each child’s needs, as well as the inter-disciplinary partnerships necessary to help a child achieve continence.
Project outcomes: Ministry of Health (2009). A service of ‘last resort’: the outcomes of a specialist paediatric continence service at Nurse Maude, Christchurch. Wellington: Author. Available from: http://www.moh.govt.nz or contact the NZICHC on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Further information : Bobbie Jones, Continence Specialist, Nurse Maude
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