Discusses the purpose of quality assessment and improvement ✓ Solved

Discuss the purpose of quality assessment and improvement methods in accomplishing the Institute of Medicine’s “six aims for improvement” in healthcare quality. The six aims as identified by the Institute of Medicine are: Safe, Effective, Efficient, Timely, Patient-Centered, and Equitable. Analyze tools and methods utilized for assessing and improving the quality of healthcare services. You are the chief nursing officer (CNO) at Community General Hospital in Tallahassee, Florida, where there has been an increase in fall-related incident reports. You have been asked to assess this quality and safety issue and establish a fall-prevention program for your organization. You will need to present this issue to the CEO, as well as an analysis of the common tools and methods your team will use to assess and improve healthcare services.

Paper For Above Instructions

Quality assessment and improvement are essential components of effective healthcare delivery. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) outlines six aims for healthcare improvement: safety, effectiveness, efficiency, timeliness, patient-centeredness, and equity (Institute of Medicine, 2001). This paper discusses the purpose of quality assessment methods and illustrates how these can be utilized effectively to meet the IOM’s aims, particularly in light of the increasing fall-related incident reports at Community General Hospital.

The Purpose of Quality Assessment and Improvement Methods

Quality assessment in healthcare involves evaluating different aspects of patient care and organizational processes to identify areas of improvement. It provides a structured approach to ensure that healthcare practices meet established standards and contribute to patient safety and satisfaction. Improvement methods guide organizations in systematically addressing deficiencies and enhancing overall performance (Baker et al., 2021). The two common methodologies used for quality improvement in healthcare organizations are Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) and Lean Six Sigma.

Institute of Medicine’s Six Aims for Improvement

The IOM's six aims provide a comprehensive framework for understanding quality in healthcare. Each aim emphasizes a critical component of healthcare delivery:

  • Safe: Avoiding injuries to patients from the care that is intended to help them.

  • Effective: Providing services based on scientific knowledge to all who could benefit and refraining from providing services to those not likely to benefit.

  • Efficient: Avoiding waste, including waste of equipment, supplies, ideas, and energy.

  • Timely: Reducing waits and harmful delays for both those who receive and those who provide care.

  • Patient-Centered: Providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values.

  • Equitable: Providing care that does not vary in quality because of personal characteristics.

Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) Cycle

The PDSA cycle is a four-phase approach designed to test and implement changes that can lead to improvement. The steps include:

  1. Plan: Identify the problem (in this case, increasing falls) and plan a change aimed at addressing it. For example, implementing a risk assessment tool for fall prevention.

  2. Do: Implement the change on a small scale, such as training nursing staff on assessment protocols.

  3. Study: Analyze the data collected to assess the impact of the change on the rate of falls.

  4. Act: Based on findings, either adopt the change, modify it, or abandon it entirely.

For example, if a specific intervention minimizes falls during the pilot phase, the team may choose to implement it in all units.

Lean Six Sigma

Lean Six Sigma integrates lean manufacturing principles with Six Sigma metrics to eliminate waste and reduce variations. The five phases of the Lean Six Sigma process are:

  1. Define: Clearly outline the problem using metrics.

  2. Measure: Collect relevant data where fall incidents are reported.

  3. Analyze: Identify root causes of falls through techniques like fishbone diagrams.

  4. Improve: Implement solutions aimed at addressing these root causes.

  5. Control: Sustain improvements by putting monitoring systems in place.

Common Quality Improvement Tools

To support the implementation of the PDSA and Lean Six Sigma methods, various assessment tools can be utilized. Two commonly used tools in healthcare quality improvement are:

1. Flowcharts

A flowchart is a graphical representation of a process. It is utilized for assessing and improving workflows by identifying inefficiencies and allowing for a visual representation of processes (Jenkins et al., 2019). For instance, in analyzing meal delivery processes, a flowchart can highlight delays or bottlenecks in patient meal delivery, which can be addressed to improve service.

2. Fishbone Diagrams

This tool helps identify the potential causes of a problem by visualizing various factors that contribute to it. It is particularly useful in the analyze phase of both PDSA and Lean Six Sigma to categorize potential causes of falls, such as environmental factors or patient-related issues (Toma et al., 2020).

Conclusion

The increasing number of fall-related incidents at Community General Hospital presents a significant concern that warrants thorough assessment and immediate action. By employing quality assessment and improvement methods such as PDSA and Lean Six Sigma, along with tools like flowcharts and fishbone diagrams, the hospital can systematically work towards reducing falls and enhancing patient safety. Understanding and presenting these methodologies to the CEO will be crucial for gaining support and ensuring the success of the fall-prevention program.

References

  • Baker, G. R., et al. (2021). The Role of Quality Improvement in Patient Safety. Journal of Healthcare Management.

  • Institute of Medicine. (2001). Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century. National Academies Press.

  • Jenkins, K. M., et al. (2019). Flowcharting as a Tool for Process Improvement: A Review. International Journal of Healthcare Management.

  • Toma, J., et al. (2020). Fishbone Diagram: A Visualization Tool for Problem Solving. Journal of Quality in Healthcare.

  • Lord, L. K., & Close, J. (2018). Quality Improvement in Nursing: Principles and Practice. Nursing Management.

  • Bernard, L. S., & Smith, R. E. (2022). Utilizing Lean Six Sigma in Healthcare. Healthcare Management Review.

  • Kim, Y., & Lee, H. (2021). Assessing Patient Safety: A Comparative Study of Quality Improvement Techniques. Quality in Health Care.

  • Young, C. S., & Johnson, T. (2019). Evaluation of PSDA Cycle Outcomes in Patient Safety Initiatives. Healthcare Quality Journal.

  • Miller, A. F., & Patel, R. (2021). Addressing Falls with Lean Methodologies: A Case Study Approach. Journal of Nursing Management.

  • Adams, R., & Collins, P. (2020). Efficacy of Fall Prevention Programs: A Literature Review. Journal of Safety Research.