Quality Improvement

Quality Improvement Report

Lydia Veluz Reyes

University of Phoenix

HCS/588

June 12, 2013

Doreen Gounaris

Quality Improvement Report

Quality is an essential piece in any health care organization. Quality of care plays a major role to make certain that any organization focus on quality improvement have the necessary applications, and accomplish the required outcomes. The Institute of Medicine (IOM, 1990) defined quality of care as "the degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge." This definition of quality is accepted worldwide, together with the IOM's six dimensions of quality, expressed in a safe, effective, person-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable manner (Health Foundation, 2010).

The Foundational Frameworks of QI

Quality improvement is an organizational systematic approach using explicit methods to improve the quality. How to present and execute change is a vital component to have an effective and continuous improvement (Health Foundation, 2010). It is a combination of change for improvement together with the method for approach, using explicit tools to achieve a superior result. An organization must regard quality a step to excellence in health care. It must have a framework to organize the approaches on how to think about health care quality. There are multiple frameworks developed such as government initiatives, professional requirements, models, and methods. Some examples are the Baldrige Criteria, Lean, Six Sigma, Associates for Process Improvement (API) Model for Improvement, and PDSA/PDCA (Ransom, Joshi, Nash & Ransom, 2008). Individual organizations can adopt these frameworks, develop, and set goals with full staff engagement and commitment.

Different Definitions of Quality of Care by Various Health Care Stakeholders

The stakeholders of in health care have different views for defining the quality of care. It is of vital importance to consider the different viewpoints of stakeholders - how they feel, what they think, their experiences in the past, what their priority areas of focus within their organization and how they perceive power relationships among themselves (Health Foundation, 2010). The stakeholders are the providers, payers, employers, and patients. Each of these stakeholders views quality in various ways. The providers want accuracy in diagnosis, appropriate therapy with subsequent health outcomes. The payers focus on cost effectiveness. The employers look at their employees to get back to work promptly. The patients want empathy and concern, in addition to competent skills and clear communication (Duke University Medical Center, 2005).

The Roles of Various Clinicians and Patients in QI

The role of various clinicians and patients in quality improvement is huge. Clinician leadership and commitment are crucial factors that will contribute to the success of the quality improvement plan. Motivation and involvement of clinicians who are direct frontline staff in contact with patients is crucial to improve the quality of service offered by building on their commitment through capability and support so they will engage in the process.

Patient participation has a substantial role in quality improvement. Patients are the individuals who experience the pathway from beginning to the end. They know what constitute good care, how the problem is viewed or valued, are kept informed and how patients' views will affect the outcome.

Need of Quality Management in the Health Care Industry

Quality management is important and needed in health care. It is "a principle that ensures quality in an organization's products and services" (Taylor, 2013, para. 1). Quality management plays an important role in developing, implementing, and monitoring policies and procedure that increase quality care, decrease mortality rates, and have a positive bearing to the organization's success (Harvey, 2013, para. 1). The approach is to solve quality issues and concerns with the goal to raise the bar in quality, performance in service, meet and exceed patient expectations. Quality management is also known as continuous quality improvement. The emphasis is leadership and management engagement so work processes are understood.

Areas Monitored for Quality

The priority areas of focus to monitor quality are clearly expressed by the Institute of Medicine's six dimensions of quality (Health Foundation, 2010):

* Patient Safety - by avoiding and preventing harm from care with the intention to help them. Risks must be managed, minimized, and mitigated.

* Effective - services provided is based on scientific knowledge