CQA Projects
Safe Medication Reduction in Older Patients
The US Deprescribing Research Network (USDeN)
Partners: University of California San Francisco and Johns Hopkins
Funding Source: National Institute of Aging (R33)
Pilot Grant Core Co-Leads: Sandra Simmons, PhD and Amanda Mixon, MD
Description: The US Deprescribing Research Network (USDeN) is a community of people united by a shared interest in improving research on deprescribing for older adults.
Funded by the National Institute on Aging, USDeN offers pilot grants, investigator development and education, an annual meeting, support for junior investigators, assistance with stakeholder engagement, resources for deprescribing research, and more including opportunities for collaboration and building community.
VA Drug Reduction in Older Patients: VA DROP Trial
Co-Principal Investigators: Amanda Mixon, MD and Sandra Simmons, PhD
Funding Source: Veterans Affairs (VA)
Office of Research and Development Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT03722017
Description: This randomized, controlled trial evaluated the effects of an intervention to reduce unnecessary medications among hospitalized older Veterans with polypharmacy discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) for post-acute care.
A Randomized Controlled Trial to Deprescribe for Older Patients with Polypharmacy Transferred from the Hospital to Skilled Nursing Facilities (Shed-MEDS)
Co-Principal Investigators: Sandra Simmons, PhD and Eduard Vasilevskis, MD
Funding Source: NIH/NIA
Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT02979353
Description: This randomized, controlled trial evaluated the effects of a patient-centered intervention to reduce unnecessary medications among hospitalized older adults with polypharmacy discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) for post-acute care.
Adapting the Shed-MEDS Deprescribing Intervention to Dementia Care in Assisted Living
Partners: Abe’s Garden Assisted Living Facility and the US Deprescribing Research Network
Principal Investigator: Jennifer Kim, DNP, GNP-BC, GS-C
Funding Source: NIH/NIA Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT05956665
Description: This pilot clinical trial evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of an adapted deprescribing intervention to reduce unnecessary polypharmacy among persons with dementia in assisted living.
Hospital Safety for Older Patients
VUMC Nursing Practice Transformation Initiative
Principal Investigator: Sandra Simmons, PhD
Funding Source: Tennessee Department of Health – Healthcare Resiliency Program
Description: This state-funded project is evaluating nursing care models on hospital patient safety, care quality and health access metrics as well as nursing workload, job satisfaction and retention.
To safely evaluate nursing care models prior to implementation, our team is using a systems engineering approach called Discrete Event Simulation (DES) to improve the precision of licensed and unlicensed nurse staffing allocations to meet hospitalized patients’ clinical care needs and support routine screening for health-related social needs across all adult inpatients.
Providing Safe Care to older Hospitalized Patients through Discrete Event Simulation Modeling
Principal Investigator: Sandra Simmons, PhD
Funding Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Description: Many older hospital patients require staff assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) such as walking and toileting. Assistance with these activities is time-consuming for staff, and evidence suggests ADL care is inconsistent in hospitals. Inconsistent ADL care is associated with adverse events for patients, including inpatient falls and hospital acquired disability.
This project utilizes Discrete Event Simulation (DES) as a method to improve the quality and efficiency of care for hospitalized older adults. This modeling technique was used to safely determine hospital nurse staffing needs to provide clinical and ADL care to older patients and lower their risk for inpatient falls and functional decline.
Community-based Projects
Middle Tennessee Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP)
Principal Investigator: Jennifer Kim, DNP
Funding Source: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Description: The Middle Tennessee Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) combines the expertise of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt School of Nursing, the Nashville Veterans Administration, Meharry Medical College and numerous community agencies to enhance the training for geriatric care providers in multiple disciplines and collaborate with community partners to provide age-friendly and dementia-friendly care.
Dining Assistance for Persons with Dementia: Training Modules for Professional and Family Caregivers
Principal Investigator: Sandra Simmons, PhD
Funding Source: The Allen Foundation
Sub-Contract: Abe’s Garden Assisted Living Facility
Description: This project developed and disseminated a series of nutrition education and training videos for professional and family caregivers. Video content includes eating assistance care techniques to encourage food and fluid intake among older adults with dementia.
Techniques are evidence-based and designed to enhance independence in eating, dignity and choice. Researchers partnered with local dementia care facility, Abe’s Garden, to develop and distribute the videos to dementia care providers within the community.