Go to the HealthGrades Web site’s Patient Safety Excellence Award™ Recipients 2014 page and review the Patient Safety report of one of the hospitals listed there. Here’s how:
- The “Patient Safety Excellence Award™ Recipients 2014” page lists hospitals that received the award. Click one of the hospitals, and you will be taken to that hospital’s Hospital Quality report.
- Click the report’s Patient Safety tab and scroll down to the “Patient Safety Indicators” table.
Examine the information in the safety report from the point of view of a patient. State how patient safety ratings would influence your choice of hospital. Which, for you, are the most critical indicators? Give reasons citing indicators and results for those chosen indicators. Write your analysis in one page.
Now, think like a risk manager. List the safety indicators that pertain to Obstetrics and neonatology. This will require some research. Chart audits are widely used, but the information in them varies. For example, checking for proper signatures on all forms and orders can be used universally, while daily recording of medication refrigeration temperature will only be used in some areas.
Select a minimum of three and a maximum of four indicators for measurement in your quality improvement program.
For each indicator, include the following information:
| Indicator | Describe the indicator. |
| Rationale | Explain why this indicator is suitable for the high-risk area you have chosen. |
| Measurement | Describe and explain how you will measure this indicator. |
Finally, explain how these indicators taken together cover all aspects of quality in the high-risk area.
Put together your analysis of patient safety ratings and your list of indicators. Include references.
Evaluate information in sample safety report.
List 3 or 4 indicators relevant to the high-risk area selected for the project
Justify choice of indicators
Describe and explain measurement for each indicator
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
This assignment requires the analysis of a Patient Safety report of a hospital listed on the HealthGrades website. The perspective of a patient and a risk manager needs to be considered while selecting critical indicators for quality improvement measurement. This response will evaluate the Patient Safety report, list the relevant indicators, and explain their justification and measurement.
Answer:
The information provided in the safety report would significantly influence my decision to select a hospital for treatment. Some of the most critical indicators that I would consider are Pressure sores, Postoperative Respiratory Failure Rate, and Foreign Objects left in the body. These indicators are crucial as they highlight the hospital’s cleanliness and hygiene practices, the effectiveness of the anesthesia team, and the level of care provided to patients while they are in the hospital.
As a risk manager, the indicators relevant to Obstetrics and neonatology that I would choose for my quality improvement program are Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, Cesarean delivery, and Perinatal mortality rate. These indicators are suitable for the high-risk areas of Obstetrics and neonatology as they cover the safety of both mother and baby during delivery and postnatal care.
The justification for these indicators is that the neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is a common complication for premature babies, and its measurement would help improve neonatal care. Cesarean delivery is a significant surgical procedure that requires utmost care and attention, especially since it’s usually performed under anesthesia. Additionally, measuring the perinatal mortality rate is essential in assessing the hospital’s overall care for mothers and babies before and after delivery.
To measure these indicators, I would conduct a thorough audit of the medical records of neonatal patients and mothers who received a Cesarean delivery, documenting the key aspects of their care before and after delivery. I would also review the perinatal mortality rate in detail, looking at the cause of death and assessing whether any precautions could have been taken to prevent it.
These indicators, taken together, cover all aspects of quality in the high-risk areas of Obstetrics and neonatology, ensuring that mothers and babies receive the best possible care with the highest safety standards.
References:
HealthGrades. (2014). Patient Safety Excellence Award™ Recipients 2014. Retrieved from https://www.healthgrades.com/quality/patient-safety-excellence-award-recipients-2014
