Psychotropic Medication Reduction
- COPD Education
COPD Education
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – called COPD for short – is a term used to refer to a group of chronic lung diseases related to poor airflow to and from the lungs. Most commonly, people with COPD have either emphysema or bronchitis, but asthma may be included as well.
COPD is a chronic and progressive illness that cannot be cured. It is an inflammatory lung disease. If you have COPD, damage to your airways, swelling (inflammation), or an excess of mucus make it hard for air to pass to and from your lungs. According to the National Institutes of Health, “COPD is a major cause of disability, and it is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Currently, 16 million people are diagnosed with COPD. Many more people may have the disease and not even know it…”
The CDC says: “In the United States, COPD affects more than 15 million adults, and many more do not know they have it. More than half of those diagnosed are women. COPD is a major cause of disability, and it is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States…”
People with COPD have a higher than average risk of developing lung infections, such as pneumonia, which puts them at higher risk of developing sepsis.
Sepsis, which was often called blood poisoning, is the body’s life-threatening response to infection. Like strokes or heart attacks, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment.
Citation: Sepsis Alliance. Sepsis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). 2023. https://www.sepsis.org/sepsisand/copd/
- Heart Failure
Heart Failure
Evidence suggests the three most crucial elements to successful heart failure management in long-term care include improved heart failure staff knowledge, efficient interprofessional communication, and the integration of these into the daily workflow and processes. Studies have shown that when all long-term care facility staff members, especially direct caregivers such as nursing assistants, are given an active role in the care plan implementation, patient quality of care and outcomes improve.
Downloadable Resources:
Assessing Heart Failure in Long-Term Care Facilities
Description: Evidence-based guideline outlining a systematic approach for assessment of heart failure and early recognition of symptoms
Description: American Heart Association guideline focused on heart failure in SNFs
Management of Heart Failure for Post-acute Settings TOOLKIT
Description:QIN/QIO toolkit on management of HF in post-acute care
External Webpages:
UnityPoint Health Heart Failure
- Oral Hygiene
- Advance Care Planning and Palliative Care
Advance Care Planning and Palliative Care
Local Palliative Care Resources
Genesis Palliative Care | Davenport, IA - Genesis Health System
Compassionate Palliative Care in the Quad Cities | Trinity (unitypoint.org)
When to Refer - Palliative Care
National Palliative Care Resources
Sepsis EducationSepsis Education
Sepsis is the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States. Early detection provides the best chance for survival and recovery. The resources below are resources identified to help recognize and respond to sepsis.
Sepsis can and does affect people of all ages. The very young (infants) and those who already have a chronic health problem or a compromised immune system are at higher risk of developing sepsis. But people who are aging, over 65 years old, particularly those who have chronicv health issues, are even more susceptible to sepsis than any other group. Adults age 65 years and older are 13 times more likely to be hospitalized with sepsis than adults younger than 65 and 63% of older adults 60 years and older are admitted to the ICU present with sepsis upon admission. Like strokes or heart attacks, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment.
Other findings specific to older adults include:
In older adults, sepsis is 1.96 times more likely to result in readmission to a hospital than if they had been hospitalized for something not related to sepsis.
More than 40% of older patients have another hospitalization within three months of first having sepsis, most commonly due to a repeat episode of sepsis or another infection.
Nursing home residents are over 6 times more likely to have sepsis when they go to an emergency department than non-nursing home residents. Sepsis and Long-Term Care explains some of the issues that can increase sepsis risk.
There is a 3-time higher chance of having of moderate-to-severe cognitive impairment after being in the hospital and a high chance of mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety after sepsis.
Sepsis, which was often called blood poisoning, is the body’s life-threatening response to infection. Like strokes or heart attacks, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment.
Sepsis Alliance. Sepsis and Aging. 2025. https://www.sepsis.org/sepsisand/aging/
- Vaccinations
Psychotropic Medication Reduction