NURS 3100 Week 6 Utilizing Long-Acting Injectables to Minimize Psychiatric Readmissions

Introduction

Frequent readmissions of patients who fail to adhere to their prescribed medication regimen are common in inpatient psychiatric facilities. According to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (n.d), readmission refers to admission to an acute care facility within 30 days of discharge from the same facility. Such readmissions not only lead to financial losses for healthcare facilities but also highlight the need for improved care. The use of long-acting injectables (LAIs) has emerged as a potential solution to reduce psychiatric readmissions.

Quality Indicators for Readmission Prevention

Quality indicators serve as evidence-based measures that hospitals employ to monitor performance and outcomes. The Agency for Healthcare Resource and Quality (2019) states that Prevention Quality Indicators (PQIs) help healthcare organizations identify strategies to prevent hospitalizations. PQIs aid hospitals in identifying the necessary resources in their communities to minimize hospital admissions. Identifying patients who are frequently readmitted at an early stage allows clinicians to initiate the use of long-acting injectables, thereby reducing the number of readmissions.

Benefits of Long-Acting Injectables

Early identification of patients who would benefit from LAIs can significantly improve their quality of life. Adherence to a daily pill regimen can be challenging and prone to confusion. In contrast, receiving an injectable once a month or once every three months alleviates the stress of medication management. Patients and their families no longer need to worry about missing doses, as the scheduled injections ensure consistent treatment. This option enhances the overall quality of life for patients and their families.

NURS 3100 Week 6 Utilizing Long-Acting Injectables to Minimize Psychiatric Readmissions Existing Knowledge

Studies indicate a 5% decrease in the probability of readmission among patients on long-acting injectables (Vonderharr & Snyder, 2019). Additionally, patients using LAIs demonstrate a 20-30% lower hospitalization rate compared to those on oral medication (Rubio & Correll, 2018). This research underscores the efficacy of initiating LAIs in reducing the risk of hospitalization. Furthermore, LAI use has been associated with a lower rate of treatment failure compared to oral medication (Vonderharr & Snyder, 2019). These findings highlight the lower likelihood of readmission among patients on LAIs, thus reducing the financial burden of repeat hospitalizations.

Conclusion

As clinicians, it is crucial to consider the holistic well-being of our patients. Early initiation of LAIs in psychiatric treatment leads to improved quality of care. The urgent need to increase the utilization of LAIs in psychiatric patients is evident. By prioritizing LAIs as the first-line treatment option, healthcare facilities can help patients regain control of their lives. As professionals dedicated to healing and aiding patients, incorporating long-acting injections can enhance patient experiences while simultaneously reducing readmissions.

References

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/Value-

Based-Programs/HRRP/Hospital-Readmission-Reduction-Program.html

Rubio, J. M., & Correll, C. U. (2018). Clozapine and long-acting injectable antipsychotics reduce

hospitalization and treatment failure risk in patients with schizophrenia. Evidence Based

Mental Health, 21(3), e11–e12. 

https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1136/ebmental-

2018-300003 

Von

derhaar, B., & Snyder, M. (2019). Nursing Advocacy and Long-Acting Injectables to Reduce High Readmission Rates: Quality Initiative. Journal Of The American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 1078390319865333. 

https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1177/1078390319865333