2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

336291
Nurse-Family Partnership of Hudson and Union Counties Client Retention Strategies: A Pilot Study for Quality Improvement


Monday, November 2, 2015 : 1:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Sarah Bilyj, RN, BSN, CLC, Nurse-Family Partnership of Hudson and Union Counties, Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey, Jersey City, NJ
Liliana Pinete, MD, MPH, Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey, Newark, NJ
Amber Rabines, CNM, RN, Nurse Family Partnership, Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey, Jersey City, NJ
Phoebe Lithgow, RN, BSN, CLC, Nurse Family Partnership, Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Nothern New Jersey, Jersey City, NJ
           
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Background: Nurse-Family Partnership of Hudson/Union Counties (NFP H/U) is a program of the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ (the Partnership). NFP is a free, evidence-based nurse home visiting program serving first-time, low income mothers and their families. Visits start during pregnancy and continue until the child's second birthday. Client retention is a primary factor influencing NFP outcomes. Data from 11/1/13 to 10/31/14 revealed NFP H/U retention rates were below NFP targets, demonstrating the need for intervention.

Methods: In October 2014, the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle (PDSA) was implemented for data analysis and quality improvement. Utilizing the PDSA, NFP H/U developed agency-specific interventions to increase retention: 1) Client incentives such as baby items, books, gift cards and breastfeeding supplies. 2) Graduation events to celebrate clients who complete the program. 3) Educational events to provide clients with opportunities for peer support. 4) Telephone surveys to assess client satisfaction. 4) Analysis of data and team discussion to target interventions. 5)  “Alternative Visit Schedule” to provide a personalized visit schedule for clients with limited availability due to work or school. 6) Referral Outreach Policy: all referrals are screened for interest in participating before assignment to a nurse.

Results:Continue with monthly PDSA cycles to evaluate interventions. Further interventions will be added based on data findings. Our goal is to achieve a 3% increase in retention by November 2015. This process continues until NFP targets are met.

Conclusions: Implementation of retention planning policies is essential to reduce client attrition and meet program objectives.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related nursing
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Discuss how client retention is a primary factor influencing program outcomes. Describe the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, and how to utilize it as a tool for data analysis and quality improvement. List six agency specific interventions developed to increase client retention rates. Explain future goals to reach program targets for retention.

Keyword(s): Quality Improvement, Nurses/Nursing

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a registered nurse with eight years of experience. I am the supervisor for the Nurse-Family Partnership of Hudson and Union Counties. As supervisor, I participate on committees for planning continuing education for staff, as well as policy development to improve services to the community. One of my primary roles as supervisor is to support my staff with continuous quality improvement to reach NFP evidence-based objectives and outcomes.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3286.0: Maternal Child Health