Class 630 Week 5 Outcome and process measure

In a 1,000-1,250 word paper, consider the outcome and process measures that can be used for CQI. Include the following in your essay: At least two process measures that can be used for CQI. At least one outcome measure that can be used for CQI. A description of why each measure was chosen. An explanation of how data would be collected for each (how each will be measured). An explanation of how success would be determined. One or two data-driven, cost-effective solutions to this challenge. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.Class 630 Week 5 Outcome and process measure.  Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance. This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competency: MSN Emphasis in Leadership in Health Care Systems 6.5 Generate data-driven, cost-effective solutions to organizational challenges.

Continuous Quality Improvement

Continuous quality improvement (CQI) is an approach by a healthcare organization to adhere to best practices and improve patient care. Healthcare organizations regularly conduct continuous quality improvements to align with the clinical guidelines and improve patient satisfaction. The implementation of CQI requires the establishment of process measures and their implementation. Then, the outcome measures are evaluated to assess whether the organization was able to achieve the goals and objectives for the CQI (Ferrah et al., 2017). Usually, CQI is a structured and planned organizational process to ensure the achievement of quality health outcomes. This paper will analyze the CQI process for patient safety, including the process measures, outcome measures, description of the measures, data collection, evaluation of success, and proposals on data driven cost-effective solutions.

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Process Measures

One of the process measures that can be considered includes voluntary error reporting systems. This measure relies on those involved in the adverse events to provide detailed information on why and how the events occurred (Stavropoulou et al., 2015). During incident reporting, the initial reports come from the healthcare workers at the frontline of patient care. It may also include healthcare professionals involved in an action that led to the adverse event. It may include nurses, pharmacists, or the physician caring for the patient when the medication error occurred rather than the healthcare organization management. This process measure is passive and may be used to survey unsafe conditions, rather than active techniques such as direct observations. The incident reporting system may have a safe environment that protects the privacy of whoever is reporting (Stavropoulou et al., 2015). The reports must also be received from a broad range of personnel.

The next process measure that can be used is automated surveillance that assesses cases of drug events. Automated surveillance can be used prospectively or retrospectively to screen patients at risk of adverse reactions (Giuliano, 2017). Nurses and other care providers can use rules-based computer systems to identify various clinical data that relate to patient safety such as toxic drug levels, antidotes, and drug-laboratory combinations. These variables may give suggestions that the patient has suffered an adverse drug event before (Giuliano, 2017). Class 630 Week 5 Outcome and process measure. The use of automated surveillance may be limited due to a lack of technical knowledge and the financial resources to build sophisticated rules-based computer systems that conduct comprehensive surveillance.

Outcome Measures

Outcome measures are the impact of the intervention on the health status of the patients. One outcome measure can be the number of patients lost of rehospitalized due to medication errors (Ferrah et al., 2017). The other outcome measure may be the rate of post-surgical complications within a particular period. The outcome measures may be reported by either the patient or the care provider. For instance, patients may notify the nurse when they are feeling symptoms of adverse drug reactions or side effects of a particular medication. Still, a care provider can notice patient health changes and report the outcome measure (Ferrah et al., 2017).

However, what patients and their families may report as a side effect of a particular drug may differ significantly from the perception of the nurse or any other care provider. Also, outcome measures such as the number of complications or degree of morbidity reported by the patient or their families may miss important information. Notably, the patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) are critical in capturing the effectiveness of therapy (Ferrah et al., 2017). It involves the reports directly coming from patients that may be missed by clinical observation from the care provider.

Why Each Measure was Used

Firstly, post-operative care is crucial in ensuring patients do not develop surgical complications post-discharge. Most post-surgical complications result from poor self-care from patients. Poor patient and family education post-discharge lead to the development of complications at home (Harris et al., 2020). Such challenges may result in rehospitalization and readmission of the patient. In some cases, patients’ safety is jeopardized and the patient may be lost. Imperatively, nurses and other care providers must ensure that patients are educated on self-care and self-management practices before they are discharged. As an outcome measure, the rate of post-surgical complications will provide insights into patient safety strategies that can be undertaken.

Secondly, the number of patients rehospitalized due to medication errors was chosen as an outcome measure due to the rise of medication error cases. Medication errors are a serious public health problem and one of the leading causes of death. Despite the high incidence, it has been difficult to consistently uncover the causes of medication errors (Ferrah et al., 2017). Even when found, it has been challenging to provide viable solutions that minimize the chances of future errors or the recurrent of a similar event. However, recognizing untoward medication events and working toward preventing them will greatly improve patient safety. One of the solutions to mitigating medication errors is through building a culture of recognizing safety challenges and implementing prevention strategies rather than harboring a culture of blame, shame, or punishment (Ferrah et al., 2017). Imperatively, healthcare organizations can establish a culture of safety that emphasizes quality improvement by overcoming medication errors. Class 630 Week 5 Outcome and process measure.

Data Collection

Data for the number of patient rehospitalization due to medication errors will be collected by daily reporting from care providers. Entries such as forms and electronic health records will be availed to the care providers. Using the data entry provisions, they will records cases of patient rehospitalizations and evaluate whether it is a case of patient safety due to medication errors. Conversely, data collection on the rate of post-surgical complications will be collected by patient-reported outcomes. Patients reporting possible post-surgical complications will be interviewed by the safety professional team (Ferrah et al., 2017). The team will also use self-completed questionnaires and other data collection tools such as handheld devices. The safety professional team will also collect data using proxy reports from healthcare professionals and caregivers.

Evaluating Success

The success of the CQI will be determined by various statistical analyses. The safety professional team can evaluate outcome measures to derive valuable health information. The results of the analysis such as the rate of post-surgical complications will be compared against previous data. The team will also compare trends to determine the success of the CQI. For instance, if the rate of post-surgical complications is lower compared to previous findings, then the CQI will be determined as a success.

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Data-Driven Cost-effective Solutions

One of the important solutions based on the data that will be retrieved from the study will include educating patients on their safety and the need to report safety concerns. Sensitizing the patients will ensure that they are aware of their health and encourage them to report safety concerns. By reporting safety concerns and medication errors in time, various adverse reactions and complications can be successfully prevented (Ho & Quick, 2018). Also, the healthcare team will be encouraged to obtain informed consent from patients according to ethical and legal guidelines.

Conclusion

Patient safety is a global health issue. Continuous quality improvement ensures that healthcare organizations adhere to patient safety issues. CQI consist of process measures, outcome measures, data collection and evaluation, and recommendations aimed to improve patient safety and enhance quality care. The evaluation process, therefore, provides valuable information that can guide in data-driven and cost-effective solutions to improve patient safety.

References

Ferrah, N., Lovell, J. J., & Ibrahim, J. E. (2017). A systematic review of the prevalence of medication errors resulting in hospitalization and death of nursing home residents. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 65(2), 433-442.

Giuliano, K. K. (2017). Improving patient safety through the use of nursing surveillance. Biomedical instrumentation & technology, 51(s2), 34-43.

Harris, K., Søfteland, E., Moi, A. L., Harthug, S., Storesund, A., Jesuthasan, S., … & Haugen, A. S. (2020). Patients’ and healthcare workers’ recommendations for a surgical patient safety checklist–a qualitative study. Class 630 Week 5 Outcome and process measure. BMC health services research, 20(1), 1-10.

Ho, A., & Quick, O. (2018). Leaving patients to their own devices? Smart technology, safety, and therapeutic relationships. BMC medical ethics, 19(1), 1-6.

Stavropoulou, C., Doherty, C., & Tosey, P. (2015). How effective are incident‐reporting systems for improving patient safety? A systematic literature review. The Milbank Quarterly, 93(4), 826-866. Class 630 Week 5 Outcome and process measure.