Awardees

2024 Awardees

Congratulations to the following 2024 SPARQ Tank Awardees! Projects are currently underway for all three awards. Awardees have 12-15 months to complete their projects.

Multidisciplinary Incidental Pulmonary Nodule Care (MultiD-IPNC) - $15,000 Award

Project Overview

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Early detection is key, but only 5% of eligible patients get screened for lung cancer. Most lung nodules, which are potential signs of cancer, are found incidentally during imagining exams done in other settings, like the emergency department (ED). Unfortunately, follow-up on these nodule findings is often poor, raising significant patient safety concerns. Our goal is to create a safety net to facilitate the follow-up of incidental nodules found in the ED at UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center. A clinical nurse will review all radiology reports for chest CT scans that were performed in the ED during a 3-month period in the past calendar year, noting nodules, follow-up and any further evaluation performed. If needed, we plan to create a permanent position to review chest CT scans and ensure appropriate follow-up care.

Progress Update - October 2024

As of October 2024, the MultiD-IPNC team now consists of two research assistants, in addition to multiple members of the Interventional Pulmonology team at UM BWMC. To date, they have reviewed 360 out of their target 1235 scans. Learn more about their progress in the MultiD-IPNC team's "Where Are They Now?" video.

Project Team

• Peter Olivieri, III, MD, Pulmonary Critical Care
• Hannah Van Ryzin, BSN, RN, CCRN – Senior Clinical Nurse II, Critical Care 

Discharge Meal Plan Program - $10,000 Award

Project Overview

At UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center, there is not currently a standard process for patients at highest risk of experiencing malnutrition to receive nutritious meals. Our goal is to create a Discharge Meal Kit program for our diabetic population who identify as having a food scarcity concern. Once identified in our medical records, the patient’s response would trigger an alert for case management to coordinate with the appropriate department/organization to receive a discharge meal kit. The kit will include medically tailored meals (tentatively one week's worth), a list of community resources to align future meal needs, and a follow-up call from a case management/population health representative.

Progress Update - October 2024

The Discharge Meal Plan team has spent their first few months planning the logistics of the program, including securing a vendor to supply the meals, ordering custom-branded insulated transport bags, identifying storage space and eligible patients. Part of the funds were shared with the Diabetes Self-Care Success Class run by Caitlin Nass, CRNP. To date, the team has hosted four classes, two of which were taught in Spanish. Learn more about their progress in the Discharge Meal Program and Diabetes Self-Care Success Class "Where Are They Now?" video.

Project Team

• Elyse Kontra, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC – Nutrition Systems Director at Morrison Healthcare
• Jaime Van Allen, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, NEA-BC, CV-BC – Director, Nursing Practice and Outcomes

Elyse and Jamie will collaborate with Caitlin Nass on diabetes education.   

Proactive Discharge to Sub-Acute Nursing Facility Pre-Auth Program - $5,000 Award

Project Overview

Many hospitals across the country are faced with the challenge of minimizing avoidable days, and UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center is not exempt. One reason is due to delays in patient discharge while waiting for insurance authorization for post-acute care at sub-acute nursing facilities (SNFs). The Proactive Discharge to SNF Pre-Auth Program aims to reduce these avoidable days by discharging specific patients to participating SNFs before insurance approval is received. Contracts will be made with participating SNF partners to admit carefully screened and selected patients while insurance authorization is pending. The Care Management team will coordinate the process and ensure all required documentation is complete.

Progress Update - October 2024

As of October 2024, the Proactive Discharge to Sub-Acute Nursing Facility Pre-Auth Program has contracted with several local nursing facilities. Twelve patients have been through the program so far. Learn more about their progress in the Proactive Discharge to Sub-Acute Nursing Facility Pre-Auth Program "Where Are They Now?" video.

Project Team

• Suzanne Meyer – Director, Care Management