NURS FPX 6218 Assessment 1 Proposing Evidence-Based Change NURS-FPX 6218 Leading the Future of Health Care

 

Prof. Name

Date

Change Proposal Summary Report

The main goal of this executive summary report is to propose a change in the management of peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients in healthcare organizations within Colorado. For this purpose, intricate research on peripheral neuropathy is conducted, followed by a comparative analysis of its management in non-U.S. healthcare systems to find effective measures and strategies in change proposals so that the quality of health in people with diabetes is improved by reducing diabetes-associated complications of peripheral neuropathy.

Executive Summary

Proposed Change

Peripheral neuropathy is a challenging complication for patients with diabetes. It affects peripheral nerves, causing pain, sensory loss, and paraesthesia. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) impacts 50% of diabetics resulting in pain with a risk of foot ulcers 25%, which can lead to leg amputation (Hicks & Selvin, 2019). Considering these consequences of poor care, strenuous efforts are required to promote aggressive screening and management of diabetes through regular HbA1c monitoring, foot examination, and pain management.

The local healthcare systems in Colorado have been facing peripheral neuropathy as an emerging problem for diabetics, where many patients suffer from numbness in their feet, pain, foot ulcers, and leg amputations. Considering this overwhelming condition of diabetic peripheral neuropathy impacting patients’ quality of life, it is essential to focus on changing this particular care area so people with diabetes can have improved health and quality of life. By addressing this specific issue and improving diabetes management through adequate foot examination at least once annually, as recommended by American Diabetes Association, peripheral neuropathy can be controlled (American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee, 2021). Furthermore, improving glycemic levels through lifestyle modification and pharmacotherapy can reduce the risk of peripheral neuropathy and its progression. Additionally, educating the patients on foot care and self-care behaviors to regulate glycemic levels will enable the delayed onset of peripheral neuropathy (Alahakoon et al., 2020).

Desired Outcomes

This proposal for improvement in diabetes patients with peripheral neuropathy through adequate foot examination, foot care and patient education will result in several desired outcomes that we aim to achieve through this proposal for change and improvement. These desired outcomes are as follows

1. Prevention of neuropathy complications: By timely managing diabetes and peripheral neuropathy, one can prevent complications such as infections, delayed healing, foot ulcerations, and leg amputations in advanced cases of peripheral neuropathy (Selvarajah et al., 2019)
2. Enhanced sensation: In peripheral neuropathy, the sensory peripheral nerves are damaged, affecting sensation to temperature, pain and pressure, causing numbness and tingling. By improving glycemic levels and preventing peripheral neuropathy, diabetics can have enhanced sensation to changes in physical stimuli that facilitate preventing injuries (Agarwal et al., 2019). 
3. Improved mobility and preservation of limb function: Managing and preventing peripheral neuropathy through lifestyle modification and dietary changes to regulate glycemic levels promote mobility in people with diabetes and helps them balance and coordinate their gait while walking, which can be hindered by lower nerve power. Improved mobility will prevent risks of patient falls and helps people with diabetes stay active in their lifetime (Zilliox & Russell, 2019).