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STATEMENT OF PURPOSE Statement of Purpose: The purpose of the research project is to evaluate Care Management services being provided to Heartland hospital emergency department readmission patients. The Care Management program assists patients by connecting them with needed resources after the hospital visit. The research project will identify which Care Management services are being utilized the most/least and if patients feel that Care Management services have an effect on patient emergency department readmissions. STATEMENT OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Statement of Research Methodology: Patients who participate will sign an informed consent document explaining the research project purpose and confidentiality. The student researcher will conduct a short interview with participating patients about Care Management services. The questions will include information about patient access to care and discharge information as well as services the patient found to be most/least helpful. The collected information will be analyzed using SPSS program. ANTICIPATED RISKS AND BENEFITS Statement of Research Risk and Benefit: There are no foreseeable risks for the patients or researcher. The information collected during the interview will not contain any identifying information about the patient; no names, birth dates, or medical record numbers. The benefit is to enhance the services provided by Care Management for future patients using the services. If Care Management services improved, it may help to cut down on the number of readmission emergency department patient visits. The Care Management program could spread to other agencies if it is successful. SUBJECT SELECTION Subject Selection Procedures: The patients will need to meet the requirements of readmitting to the Heartland emergency department within the last 45 days and be over the age of 18. The patients’ participation is voluntary and a signed informed consent is required. The sample will be collected by using the Heartland Intranet system and utilizing the case loads of those employed with Care Management at the Heartland Business Plaza. The student researcher will be notified of eligible patients from the Care Management staff. CONFIDENTIALITY Confidentiality Measures: The only information obtained by the student researcher that will contain specific identifiable information about the patient will be the informed consent document. The hard copies of the consent forms will be locked into a file cabinet at the desk used by myself. The completed questionnaires will be locked in the same file cabinet. The computer used to analyze the data will require a secured sign-in name and password before access, which will only be done by me. The consent forms and questionnaires will either be destroyed or archived into the hospital research files after the project is completed in late April. PRIMARY SUPPORTING DOCUMENT Click for Word Document Extension Request on 03-08-2013 Did not select enough time to complete project during proposal submission. Would like an additional 60 days to complete the project. Extension Request on 04-12-2013 Need more time to complete project. Final Report on 05-05-2013 The evaluation of care management services connected with Heartland Hospital project is completed and everything went as planned.