Marilyn Rantz, a researcher at the University of Missouri, has spearheaded a groundbreaking program that enhances the quality of care in nursing homes and significantly reduces unnecessary hospitalizations, saving substantial costs for both Missouri nursing homes and Medicare. This economic benefit has allowed these facilities to retain their top staff better. Due to its remarkable success, the program is now recommended for nationwide adoption.
The initiative, known as the Quality Improvement Program for Missouri (QIPMO), was launched in 1999 by Rantz in collaboration with Mizzou’s Sinclair School of Nursing and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Over the past 25 years, this program has fostered a close-knit community, enabling Rantz and her expert team to work closely with numerous nursing home staff and administrators across Missouri, providing effective strategies to detect illnesses earlier, control infection spread, and enhance overall care quality.
Recent research underscores the effectiveness of the QIPMO program. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association reviewed the program’s impact on all 510 participating Missouri nursing homes from 2020 to 2022. It monitored various quality metrics, such as urinary tract infections, high-risk pressure ulcers, antipsychotic usage, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations, confirming significant improvements across these facilities.
Rantz, a Curators’ Distinguished Professor Emerita with nearly 55 years of experience in the nursing industry, highlighted that the detailed data from the study conclusively shows that every nursing home participating in the QIPMO program witnessed overall enhancements. These improvements spanned multiple areas, including infection control, sanitation procedures, hand-washing education, and resident behaviour monitoring, ultimately improving the lives of hundreds—if not thousands—of residents.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light various chronic issues within U.S. nursing homes, such as staffing shortages, underpayment of staff, and a lack of personalized care. In response, Rantz was selected by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to join a committee of national experts focused on improving nursing home care quality. In 2022, this committee released a report to the U.S. Congress and nursing home associations nationwide, recommending the adoption of successful quality improvement programs like QIPMO in all 50 states.
Rantz and her collaborators at Mizzou and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services have set a high standard for nursing home care, which is now poised to influence practices across the nation. Their unwavering commitment to seeing these evidence-based best practices implemented throughout the country ensures the sustainability of the program, and that all nursing homes can achieve similar levels of care excellence and quality improvement.
More information: Marilyn Rantz et al, Longitudinal Evaluation of a Statewide Quality Improvement Program for Nursing Homes, Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2023.12.010
Journal information: Journal of the American Medical Directors Association Provided by University of Missouri – Columbia
