Health Quality Monitoring Organizations - Essay Example

Health Quality Monitoring Organizations There are various organizations and federal agencies that are responsible for monitoring quality in healthcare organizations. They monitor the healthcare practitioners, facilities, avail information about changes in the healthcare industry, promote safety and ensure healthcare organizations compliance to legal issues and provide quality services. These agencies establish rules and regulations that must be adhered to by organizations in the healthcare industry.

The first organization is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is a federal agency whose purpose is to oversee the production and use of drugs, medical equipment, vaccines, blood products and biologics. They also establish rules for testing of the drugs and vaccines used for different purposes. This government agency is mandated with ensuring that both food and drugs are safe for consumption for both humans and animals (FDA). One of the duties performed by the FDA is product approval such that they ensure all products are tested and approved for public consumption.

They check for product labeling, content and packaging. This ensures safety as they often monitor these products for quality and recall some of them to protect the public. The second duty is approving of medicines to ensure they are safe and effective before they are released to the public. The third duty is checking and approval of radiation emitting products such as X-ray machines, microwave ovens etc. The fourth duty is to enforce legislations such as the Food and drug act. The last duty is continuous monitoring of products and services to ensure quality and adherences to set standards (FDA).

There are various methods used to monitor quality by the FDA and these include laboratory testing of drugs to ensure they comply with set standards (FDA). They also ensure that healthcare organizations and practitioners are accredited before they are allowed to handle patients. The third method they use is conducting consumer satisfaction survey to assess the quality of new products or new methods of treatment and care. Through this they are able to gauge their effectiveness and improve or discard them.

The second organization is the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). This is a federal agency that is under the department of health and human services. Its purpose is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, effectiveness and cost effectiveness of health care. It is evident from this that they deal with health care and healthcare services offered to all Americans (Lynn Shapiro Snyder). There are a variety of duties that are undertaken by AHRQ among them is to ensure the reduction of patient harm from health care services through the use of evidence based research and technology.

The second duty is achieve broad access to effective health care services while promoting the efficient utilization of available resources. The third duty is to improve health care outcomes and this is done by encouraging providers, consumers and patients to make use of evidence based information so as to make informed treatment decisions (Lynn Shapiro Snyder). There are various methods used by AHRQ in monitoring quality. The first method is through surveys that are conducted by the agency officials on the quality of health care services given to patients.

The second method is through their program called Consumer Assessment of Health care Providers and Systems (CAHPS). Through this they are able to set health care standards to be adhered to by all healthcare practitioners and healthcare organizations (Lynn Shapiro Snyder). The third organization is called the Centers for Medicare and Medical services (CMS). Its purpose is to work with all health care providers so as to ensure quality, efficient and cost effective care for older adults, the disabled and the low income earners.

This organization works to modernize the healthcare industry, offer medical services to all and establish reimbursement standards in the healthcare industry (Department of Health and human services). The CMS performs a number of duties and this includes overseeing two key health care programs: the Medicare program which is a health insurance program for seniors, the Medicaid program which a federal needs-based program. CMS is also mandated to oversee the children’s insurance program (CHIP), the Health Insurance Portability Act (HIPAA) and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments.

Other duties include ensuring quality standards in long term care facilities and improving health care through use of information Technology (Department of Health and human services). The methods used in monitoring quality by CMS include surveys on patients both in hospitals and in nursing homes to ascertain the quality of treatment they receive. They also use the certification process to ensure all health care facilities such as laboratories and nursing homes adhere to set standards. These among others ensure quality is maintained.

The above three organizations have played a great role in ensuring that individuals receive the best medical care and services. FDA has played a big role in ensuring that food and drugs meet the required standards. AHRQ has ensured continued research so that better methods are arrived at that can be used to provide the best medical care for Americans. The CMS on the other hand has improved health care services through its modernization program and the use of IT in the health care industry. Generally the organizations have made a positive impact in the healthcare industry making sure that quality is achieved and standards maintained (Department of Health and human services).

Works Cited Department of Health and human services. "Centers for Medicare & Medicaid." 2010 March . 20 September 2011 . FDA. FDA. 2011. 20 September 2011 . Lynn Shapiro Snyder, Clayton J. Nix and Lee Rosebus. "AHRQ Announces a Request For Applications and Funding ." August 2009. Healthcare and Life Sciences Client Alert. 20 September 2011 .