First Advisor

Mullen, Patricia

Second Advisor

Berg, Barbara

College

Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice

School

Loretto Heights School of Nursing

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Number of Pages

112 pages

Abstract

The rural and frontier populations have fewer health care resources and remain an underserved health care consumer. The purpose of the Capstone Project was to standardize care of the rural STEMI patient with an algorithm developed by teams, and using systems improvements. The nationally recognized urban algorithm for STEMI care (Kushner et al., 2009) was tested in the rural environment of Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center (HRRMC) in Salida Colorado. The project emphasis was process improvement. A multi-disciplinary team was developed at Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center (HRRMC) and the clinical practice guidelines were reviewed. A modified algorithm for STEMI care was developed. The outcomes revealed a comparison group of three STEMI patients and an interventional group of seven STEMI patients. The care delivery time was reduced from 288 minutes in 2010, without the algorithm to 150 minutes with the algorithm in 2011. The algorithm proved clinically relevant and has become a useful tool in rural heart attack care for HRRMC.

Date of Award

Summer 2012

Location (Creation)

Colorado (state); Denver (county); Denver (inhabited place)

Rights Statement

All content in this Collection is owned by and subject to the exclusive control of Regis University and the authors of the materials. It is available only for research purposes and may not be used in violation of copyright laws or for unlawful purposes. The materials may not be downloaded in whole or in part without permission of the copyright holder or as otherwise authorized in the “fair use” standards of the U.S. copyright laws and regulations.

Share

COinS