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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Karen S. Martin, RN, MSN, FAAN, Martin Associates, 2115 S. 130th St., Omaha, NE 68144 and Karen A. Monsen, RN, MS, Washington County Public Health and Environment, 14949 62nd St. N, Stillwater, MN 55082, 651-430-6697, martinks@msn.com.
Clinical data that can be transformed into information and knowledge are essential to the present and future of public health nursing. Administrators, managers, and clinicians need accurate and consistent data that enable them to articulate their clients’ needs, the services they provide to meet those needs, and the outcomes of care.
The Omaha System is a research-based, standardized vocabulary that public health departments can use to organize, document, analyze, and disseminate their data. It consists of client problems/nursing diagnoses, interventions, and client outcomes. It is designed for use by public health nurses, social workers, nutritionists, and other clinicians.
Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment, Stillwater MN began using the Omaha System within an automated public health nursing information system in 1999. Nurses complete a population-based assessment and identify problems for the Department’s primary target populations, including single or low income pregnant women, children with special needs, and families at risk for domestic or child abuse. Nurses provide tailored services that meet their clients’ needs, and record the findings. When outcome data are analyzed and graphs developed, information depicts statistically significant improvement in problem-specific client knowledge, behavior, and status, and demonstrates the effectiveness of public health nursing services.
This process has expanded the Department’s capacity to complete population-based assessments, measure client outcomes, and guide program planning. Using standardized clinical information has improved communication with the public about the needs of Washington County citizens and the Department’s efforts to serve them.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to
Keywords: Reporting, Public Health Nursing, Outcomes
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.