Date of Conferral
10-30-2026
Date of Award
October 2026
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Teresa Nardontonia
Abstract
This evidence-based Doctor of Nursing Practice executive leadership system quality improvement project addresses inconsistent referrals to case management for discharge planning within a large public acute care hospital. The practice-focused question asks: According to the evidence, among hospitalized adult patients who meet defined high-risk discharge criteria, what is the impact of implementing a standardized early case management referral protocol requiring referral within 48 hours of admission on referral timeliness? A systematic literature search was conducted using CINAHL, MEDLINE (PubMed), Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library. The search yielded 5,755 records; after removal of 1,200 duplicates, 4,555 records underwent title and abstract screening, 50 articles underwent full-text review, and 12 met criteria for synthesis. The final body of evidence included seven Level I sources rated strong, one Level II source rated good, and four Level III sources rated good. Evidence supported early, structured discharge planning, interdisciplinary care coordination, timely communication, and targeted interventions for patients with high-risk discharge needs. Based on the evidence and organizational assessment, a standardized early case management referral protocol is recommended for eligible hospitalized adults, with referral initiated within 48 hours of admission. Referral timeliness will serve as the primary outcome during the proposed 12-week implementation period.
Recommended Citation
St. Louis, Vinteerie, "Program Proposal for the Implementation of a Standardized Case Management Model" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 20991.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/20991
