Improving patient-provider interactions through use of a care plan for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities

Adult patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID) face unique challenges when hospitalized. Many providers lack the training and resources needed communicate effectively with these patients leading to longer patient stays. At Rush University Medical Center, a 2010 chart review of patients with ID revealed a higher rate of hospital adverse for these patients, indicating the need to further improve inpatient care. On-going collaboration between the Rush Adults with ID Committee, nursing leadership, and faculty and Graduate Entry Master's students at the College of Nursing led to the development of nursing care plans for individuals with ID in 2012. Informed by multiple research modalities and a survey of 63 registered nurses, the care plans purposely address communication between the patient with ID, family, and hospital staff providing specific methods to intervene and covers topics such as managing the environment, managing behaviors, and improving caregiver role strain. Deployment and dissemination of the new care plan is an interdisciplinary effort with on-going student involvement. On-line educational modules on the effective use of the care plan will be offered to medical center staff prior to the care plans going live. As a part of the electronic medical record, these care plans will serve as a mechanism to directly address the deficiencies in the current system and speak to quality outcomes as a measure of project success. Improving patient-provider interactions through use of this care plan will likely address communication issues and reduce hospital adverse events for individuals with intellectual disabilities.