Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

• Committee Chair Name & Credentials:
  Sharon Karp, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC
• Committee Member Name & Credentials:
  Janelle Delle, DNP, ACNP-BC

DNP Project Abstract

Assessing Health System Preparedness and Screening Process/Workflow during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose
The purpose of this project was to analyze data from the literature regarding preparedness, effectiveness, and efficiency of testing centers, and compare it to current processes at a large medical center COVID-19 assessment clinic.

Methods
This project followed McLaughlin & Jordan's Logic Model for Program Evaluation to collect data on previous and current clinic processes regarding staffing, communication, and patient flow at the COVID-19 assessment clinic, to provide recommendations for future pandemic and/or epidemic clinic preparedness at a large medical center COVID-19 assessment clinic.

Results
Data results showed that adequate staffing was critical in the clinic's ability to provide care and effectively manage large patient volume during a pandemic. Weekly communication emails allowed employees to stay informed of clinical guidelines and recommendations, and further aided in the organization of the assessment clinic.

Implications for Practice
Adequate staffing and timely communication methods reflected the current literature and best practices regarding the preparedness and efficiency of testing centers. Although there are other aspects needed regarding setting up a formalized clinical screening process, emphasis on staffing and communication facilitated patient flow and created a safe and effective clinical process. These findings can support evidence-based recommendations for future pandemic and/or epidemic clinic preparedness within large medical center assessment clinics.