·
Examine two (2) well-known healthcare quality organizations that
have taken two to three (2-3) measures to improve quality within the
organizations themselves. Suggest one (1) additional measure that each
organization could take to further improve healthcare quality. Justify your
response.
·
Suppose you are a Quality Officer for a healthcare organization
in your area. You have been tasked with creating a plan to reduce the
increasing number of medical errors that occur within your organization.
Specify two (2) quality initiatives that your organization could implement in
order to reduce medical errors and their related costs. Determine the
fundamental tenets of the Standard of Care that would influence quality in your
organization. Provide a rationale for your response.
·
As a healthcare administrator, you have been tasked with
researching your hospital’s compliance in the proper reporting of both medical
and non-medical errors made by the staff. Compare the relationship of
hospital’s corporate liability with that of each employee’s vicarious liability
in the event of an error. Discuss the essential steps that your organization
can take to reduce occurrences in both. Provide at least two (2) examples of
the successful application of such steps to support your rationale.
·
Interpret the extent to which public reporting and value-based
purchasing improve healthcare quality. Include a comparison of two to three
(2-3) advantages to each reporting method. Support your response with two (2)
examples of healthcare quality improvements that could have resulted from of an
organization implementing each type of reporting method in question.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
This essay will provide answers to various medical college assignments related to healthcare quality organizations, medical errors, and public reporting and value-based purchasing. The essay will analyze different measures taken by healthcare quality organizations to improve healthcare quality, possible quality initiatives to reduce medical errors and their related costs, the relationship between hospital’s corporate liability and each employee’s vicarious liability in the event of an error, and the impact of public reporting and value-based purchasing on healthcare quality.
Answer 1:
Two well-known healthcare quality organizations are the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and the Joint Commission (TJC). NCQA measures to improve quality becomes evident through its Healthcare Effectiveness data and Information Set (HEDIS), Clinical Practice Guidelines, and Disease Management Programs. HEDIS provides reliable and comparable data to evaluate quality performance across different health plans, while Clinical Practice Guidelines aim to provide evidence-based care to patients. To further improve healthcare quality, NCQA can develop a patient safety culture within the organization through effective communication and reporting channels. On the other hand, the TJC measures to improve quality becomes apparent through its accreditation process, the National Patient Safety Goals, and the Sentinel Event Policy. TJC can improve healthcare quality by establishing a more transparent and accountable reporting policy to identify near misses and adverse events.
Answer 2:
Two quality initiatives that a healthcare organization can implement to reduce medical errors and related costs are Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS). EHRs provide a more efficient and standardized mode of communication between different healthcare providers, resulting in fewer medical errors. CDSS, on the other hand, assists in making informed decisions about an individual patient’s care by providing necessary diagnostic and treatment options based on evidence-based guidelines. The fundamental tenets of the Standard of Care that would influence quality in an organization include providing competent care, maintaining accurate and complete patient records, respecting the patient’s autonomy, and exercising confidentiality and privacy. High-quality healthcare organization should always ensure that these fundamental tenets are met while providing care to patients.
Answer 3:
In the event of an error, the hospital’s corporate liability varies from each employee’s vicarious liability. The hospital’s corporate liability is usually more significant, and it involves situations where the hospital can be held liable for its employees’ actions. On the other hand, vicarious liability applies to individual employees where they can be held responsible for their actions. To reduce occurrences in both corporate and vicarious liability, the organization can implement an effective risk management program, providing adequate training and resources to employees, and establishing an open reporting culture to identify any near misses or adverse events. Successful implementation of such programs is evident in the use of checklists in surgical procedures and rapid response teams in critical care settings.
Answer 4:
Public reporting and value-based purchasing can significantly improve healthcare quality. Public reporting provides patients with information that enables them to make an informed decision while seeking care. It also motivates healthcare organizations to improve healthcare quality performance to prevent a decline in reputation. Value-based purchasing motivates healthcare organizations to focus on the quality of care provided rather than the volume of service rendered. Two advantages of public reporting include improving transparency in healthcare services and enhancing patient engagement. Value-based purchasing advantages include providing financial incentives to high-performing healthcare organizations and promoting accountability. Successful implementation of public reporting and value-based purchasing can be seen in the reduction of healthcare-associated infections and the improvement of care transitions.
Conclusion:
Healthcare quality is critical to medical college students, and it could significantly improve patients’ care and outcomes. Therefore, healthcare quality organizations should implement effective measures to improve healthcare quality, and healthcare organizations should identify possible quality initiatives to reduce medical errors and their related costs. It’s also vital for healthcare administrators to understand the relationship between hospital’s corporate liability and each employee’s vicarious liability in the event of an error and the impact of public reporting and value-based purchasing on healthcare quality.
