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Hospital acquired pneumonia prevention by engaging nurses (HAPPEN)
Share PrintHAPPEN, or Hospital Acquired Pneumonia Prevention by Engaging Nurses supports VHA priorities by reducing the risk of non-ventilator associated hospital acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP), improving the health and quality of life of our Veterans; modernizing systems and processes with a focus on preventive care; improving access and timeliness of service by reducing patient length of stays; and reducing health care cost. HAPPEN won the 2020 Gears of Government President's Award for Innovation, the 2021 VHA National Diffusion Award, and the 2024 American Academy of Nursing Edge Runner Award.
Origin:
October 2016, Salem VA Medical Center (Salem, Virginia)
Adoptions:
155 successful
Awards and Recognition:
Diffusion of Excellence Promising Practice, Gears of Government Winner, QUERI Partnered Evaluation Initiative, VHA Shark Tank Winner
Partners:
Diffusion of Excellence, Office of Rural Health, Quality Enhancement Research Initiative, VHA Innovators Network
Recent Updates
Overview
Problem
Links
- September 2021 Joint Commission Quick Safety Brief Joint Commission Safety Briefing on NVHAP
Solution
Videos
Our public service announcement (staff focused)
Results
Metrics
- Each NV-HAP case prevented is predicted to save over $100K in 12-month direct healthcare costs.
Diffusion tracker
Does not include Clinical Resource Hubs (CRH)
Multimedia
Images
With consistent oral care, the risk of hospital acquired pneumonia among non-ventilated patients is decreased an average of 40-60%. HAPPEN has spread to VA facilities across the nation and we encourage you to contact us about joining our efforts.
Videos
This video is a reminder for direct care staff about the importance of consistent oral hygiene in prevention of hospital acquired pneumonia.
Implementation
Timeline
-
3 months to implementation
VA employees may download the oral care implementation toolkit on the VA HAPPEN SharePoint (internal VA use). Civilian hospital staff are encouraged to read our publications for guidance.
Departments
- Nursing services
Core Resources
| Resource type | Resource description |
|---|---|
PEOPLE |
|
PROCESSES |
|
Files
- Patient education HAPPEN brochure
Links
- (VA Employees) For a link to the HAPPEN Sharepoint, please contact the Team at VAHAPPEN@va.gov VAHAPPEN@va.gov
Contact
Comment
Comments and replies are disabled for retired innovations and non-VA users.
About
Origin story
Original team
VAHAPPEN@va.gov
Office of Nursing Services
We are starting to re-educate the nurses on this practice at the CVHCS. COVID-19 has unfortunately hindered our progress but we are now continuing to re-educate and start other units on the project.
I adopted Project HAPPEN to San Francisco VAHCS. Our pilot unit is 1A Medical/Surgical Telemetry and Oncology Unit and Project HAPPEN was launched on June 1, 2020 with my partner Ramonette Fernandes, ANM,RN. The implementation was a success and on October 15, 2020, Project HAPPEN was rolled out to the rest of our inpatient units that include 2B North, 2B South, 3B North. Each unit has two HAPPEN Champions assigned. The TMS learning, "Healthy Smiles for Veterans" were assigned and completed by all the inpatient RNs and CNAs. Our oral care supplies had been standardized through out our facility including the Community Living Center. Lastly, on April 28,2021 Project HAPPEN was implemented at the Community Living Center.
I am working on the Happen Team in Richmond, Virginia. Twice a day Oral Care is a real life saver for veterans, given the complex medical needs of our population.
I am the new ADPCS in Alexandria La. I would love for us to implement this in all of our areas (CLC, IPMH, Medical Surgical). I'll be on the call today. IM if you would like to talk. Thanks-you
This is a great idea that is a sorely missed opportunity that looks to help prevent future repeat admissions as well as provide basic hygiene care to our veterans.
I was in the hospital for a week last May 2019, felt like death warmed over twice, and you know, I don't remember anyone asking me about hygiene, oral or otherwise. I can't honestly remember if I even got cleaned up every day, I felt so awful and kind of out of it....the last day, I remember asking for pads and wipes and such.