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PATIENT SAFETY IMPROVEMENT

Carrington Sherman

Health Care Policy HCS/550

 BEN ROSENTHAL

Introduction

At Davis Health Care Hospital they are focused on continuous improvement in the quality of the service and management care within and in the surrounding of the facility. To see this through, they have to take accurate measures and different methods of quality improvement strategies. The management also have to look at all the necessary information technology applications and solicitations and also use benchmarking, milestones to help manage the quality improvement and to have a more effective facility.

Quality Improvement Methodologies and their associated barriers

Health care management needs to improve the quality of the provided services in this health organization. In order to do this effectively and to rightfully improve these quality services, they have to use specific methods that are already proven to be helpful in the entire process. For instance, Six Sigma is used in displaying and measuring the quality of improvement data. It is likewise used to measure the improvement process. That is by contrast and comparison of the standard or baseline process from the previous data and the procedure capability after piloting and directing solutions for quality improvements (Hughes, n.d.). Within the Six Sigma there are generally five phases and they include, define, measure, analyze, improve and control it is also known as DMAIC approach (Hughes, n.d.). The Define phase defines the objective or the goal once the problem has already been identified and that all the required data have been collected. Next is the Measuring phase, which helps in determining how any of the new processes will be. Data is therefore then analyzed and all the plan and details of improvement. The pros or advantages to these tools is that it allows the management to control improvement of the entire processes that will allow it to be eventually successful. Six Sigma users think that the method uses strong leadership and statistical sophistication that it accomplishes quality improvement (Joshi, Nash, Ransom & Ransom, 2008). Six Sigma might not have useful skills in ways of prevention tools always. It can lead to overspending and problems with fixing monetary problems.

Product improvement is a corporate and a common method that is used by many organizations. The main reason is that production enhancement is favored by improving the product more and the product will eventually produce more. Quality factors always lead to patient satisfactions as they are looking for improvement all the time. Patients who see improvements and enhancement within the facility will be happy when they get to know that improvements were made within that or the renounced facility. Hence improving service will help the health center keep up with competition and in return be competitive in the entire industry. The pros for using this method, product improvement, is that, showing customers the facility cares about the services provided or offered is that it also considers the customers. Health care quality services also require other areas to be improved such as, training of employees, updating technology, education, and more. These use many resources for the improvements and financial resources. Hence Improvement for these components can be difficult to improve if at any health care services.

Another method for quality improvement is People-based improvement method. This methodology is beneficial in quality improvement because it includes everybody from managers all the way down to customers. It is therefore much effective since it requires teamwork and everyone have to be responsible but does have benefits to everyone. It is the work of the managers to train the people as the employees do the guiding work. The Employees must have the proper training by the managers in order to provide the proper care to all the patients. Similarly, the managers have to improve the way the employees provide that care to the patients. Training gives the employees tools along with the managers that improve the necessary quality of the provided services. The pros of people-base method it is that it is a full participation improvement process. The method involves everyone and as well lets everyone have their own opinion and takes it into consideration. Quality services is a priority and employees have got the knowledge of how to provide the quality service from the undergone training. Quantitative data can also be given from the employees, leaders, and customers and it can also be used at critical decision making. The process may however require a lot of money and time that the organization may not be willing to give. Moreover, the data collected may not be useful for improvement that may lead to workers not changing as required.

The FMCH would benefit from the Six Sigma for quality improvement the inpatient services. Six Sigma provides practices that identifies issues. FMCH needs that data-driven well-disciplined method. Six sigma can display performance method quantitatively and can meet the demand of organizational data-driven methods (Six Sigma Academy, 2010). It can also save the organization money on a yearly basis. It is beneficial to FMCH and it will ensure quality improvement and save the organization money.

Information Technology Application and the barriers to its full implementation

Electronic medical record or EMR is information technology applications used by virtually all health organizations. These are helping managers improve methods in facilities. Health care technology is improving and evolving EMR is an important part of that component. Health information technology helps with health care organization to keep an accurate track with patient medical information. There is also Clinical Decision Support System that helps with figuring out diagnostic treatment recommendations it helps nurses or doctors it is referred as CDSS. Electronic Management Material is used in health facilities or EMM helps with tracking inventory, such as medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and others. These applications help to improve quality in the health care facility or services at FMHC. It helps managers keep accurate data to make sure doctors have the right information on patients and his or her care. The managers at FMHC can look through the CDSS databases and collect the correct information to see warnings on drug interactions on prescriptions to clinical protocols. The EMM can ensure the organization has the supplies are needed to provide the correct care to the patients.

Benchmarking and Milestones and its challenges during the implementation process

Milestones and benchmarks are involved in managing how quality indicators allow managers use past history and available information compare facility performance to competition. This can give the facility an idea if the competition is performing higher or lower. Benchmarking allows the facility to look and see if there is need for improvement based on how the competitor is doing. Benchmarking likewise provides real data that provides the facility with opportunities, threats, strengths, and weaknesses (Jenkins, 2011).

Milestones are commonly used where and when the improvement is needed. A potential one is that FMCH is updating the EMR system. They recently compared their system to the surrounding area and found that theirs is outdated and wanted an upgrade. They also have to do a benchmark for the training of the staff to improve quality services. The facility can use milestones that are available to make these critical decisions on quality improvement.

Performance and quality measures help improve services in the organization. Performance and quality have to know what the mission and vision is. The organization mission will be what guides the managers to ensure the decisions are made in accordance to the facilities mission. Quality measures ensure employees do what is needed to be done so that they are delivering quality care to the patients. The measures should help the employees to develop the skills and methods to improve diagnosis and practice prevention.

Successful implementation summery

In essence, quality management employees have to work as one from management to lower level employees. This ensures that quality improvement will succeed in the facility. Davis Health Care Hospital has been working on improving quality by using several methods and strategies including Six Sigma, people-based improvement, and product improvement methods. The managers do use technology application, such as EMR, CDSS and EMM. They use these to help better those applications with putting benchmarks and other milestones to make them more effective. Managers are also staying with the vision and mission of the facility so the performance and quality measures have to follow those missions and visions.

References

Hughes, G.R., (n.d). Tools and strategies for quality improvement and patient safety Retrieved

from http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/clinicians-

providers/resources/nursing/resources/nurseshdbk/HughesR_QMBMP.pdf

Jenkins, M. (2011, June 09). The value of benchmarking. Retrieved

from http://www.cmmonline.com/articles/the-value-of-benchmarking-3

Ransom, E. R., Joshi, M. S., Nash, D. B., & Ransom, S. B. (Eds.). (2008). The healthcare quality

book: Vision, strategy, and tools. (2nd ed.). Chicago, IL: health Administration Press.

Six Sigma Academy, (2010). What is Six Sigma? Retrieved from:

http://www.isixsigma.com/new-to-six-sigma/getting-started/what-six-sigma/