Western Governors University

MSN NURSIN D157

Healthcare Improvement Project Charter
Appendix G
Healthcare Improvement Project
Charter
Background
Diabetes is the nation's seventh-leading cause of death, accounting for more than 79,000 deaths
annually, and it's a leading cause of kidney failure, nontraumatic lower-limb amputations, and blindness
among adults. In addition, at an organizational level, diabetes's estimated total financial cost in the
United States in 2012 was $245 billion, including the costs of medical care, disability, and premature
death (Healthy People 2020, n.d.).
The purpose of this project is to improve self-management of diabetes by adding a Registered Dietician
(RD) to the telephonic interdisciplinary team.
Project Goal and Outcome Statement
This proposal aims to see the benefits of adding a registered dietician to the virtual patent care team.
Candidates include members with a Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) greater than 9%, also viewed as daily
fasting glucose levels of >200 mg/dL. Members will engage with the Dietician to improve diet and selfmanagement. The Dietician will provide evidence-based diet management, portion control, exercise
coaching, and nutrition label reading. In return, this will reduce their fasting glucose levels by 20-60
mg/dl (10%-30%) over four weeks. A report of members engaged with the Dietician can be reviewed to
evaluate the program.
The outcome is to improve long-term health outcomes by improving self-management of diabetes to
initially reduce daily fasting glucose. Lower daily glucose levels will lead to lower HbA1c levels and
reduce the risk of heart disease, kidney damage, blindness, amputation, and death (Evert et al., 2019),
which in return works to lower the cost of healthcare for these members.