Date of Award

Winter 12-11-2025

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

DNP Doctor of Nursing Practice

Department

Nursing

Advisor

Mary Ellen Roberts, DNP

Advisor

Mary Ellen Roberts, DNP

Committee Member

Mary Ellen Roberts, DNP

Committee Member

Teresa Conklin, DNP

Committee Member

Keshavamurthy M. Shivashankar, PhD

Keywords

Congestive Heart Failure, Quality Improvement, 30-day readmission, checklist implementation, patient education, private practice, internal medicine, Essex County

Abstract

Abstract

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) remains a leading cause of preventable 30-day hospital readmissions,

especially in outpatient and transitional care settings. This quality improvement (QI) initiative was

launched within a private internal medicine practice in Essex County, New Jersey, to address this issue

by implementing a standardized CHF management checklist. The checklist focused on four key

components: (a) comprehensive medication reconciliation, (b) tailored patient education, (c) timely

follow-up appointments, and (d) improved interdisciplinary communication. By integrating evidence-

based practices into a structured workflow, the QI project aimed to improve care coordination,

empower patients to manage their condition, and reduce preventable readmissions. The expected

outcome was a measurable decrease in 30-day readmission rates, demonstrating that checklist-driven

approaches can be effectively customized to improve patient outcomes in a private practice setting.

Keywords: Congestive Heart Failure, Quality Improvement, 30-day readmission, checklist

implementation, patient education, private practice, internal medicine, Essex County

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