Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions (05/03/23) Tappen, Ruth M.; Sopcheck, Janet; Southard, Karen; et al.

Researchers evaluated the Diffusion of Innovation model in disseminating an evidence-based patient decision guide focusing on resident and family insistence on transferring nursing home (NH) residents to acute care. Twenty workshops were hosted throughout eight states in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Region IV. In all, 1,124 facility representatives and affiliated professionals participated. The program earned a score of 4.4 out of 5 from NH administrators. Seventy-one percent of responding attendees said the workshop inspired them to use the guide, while 89% found it helpful for initiating dialogue about end-of-life care and modern NH care. Among NHs that reported their results, readmission rates declined by 30%. The researchers found the Diffusion of Innovation model effectively facilitated the guide's adoption by many facilities. However, they noted that "the workshop format provided little opportunity to respond to concerns that arose after the workshops, to diffuse the innovation further or to build sustainability."

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