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Healthcare Outcomes Management: Strategies for Planning and Evaluation - Essay Example

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Differences from the expected and the actual course of events in care pathways provide critical information that could be used to improve clinical practices (Zeppetella, 2011). In the recent past health care has taken a twist with the increasing population and the introduction…

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Extract of sample "Healthcare Outcomes Management: Strategies for Planning and Evaluation"

"Healthcare Outcomes Management: Strategies for Planning and Evaluation" is a great example of a paper on the health system. Differences from the expected and the actual course of events in care pathways provide critical information that could be used to improve clinical practices (Zeppetella, 2011). In the recent past health care has taken a twist with the increasing population and the introduction of improved facilities. Variance analysis has also gained a lot of importance, as there is a call to identify setbacks that arise in the course of care pathways (Bayliss, 2009).

Jamieson, (2007) argued that Variance analysis would for instance help handle cases that occur unexpectedly say a patient who is dismissed but comes back after a failed surgery. Variance analysis would effectively reduce the cost of care, especially where the doctors are aware of the possible outcomes. Heidenthal, (2004) acknowledged that the data can be used to advance systems and the planning of health service delivery. The data can be used to understand and handle patients who experience the same variance as well as identify factors that lead to such variations resulting in early interventions.

Discussion Forum 6 Question 2

How effective is the clinical pathway as a clinical management tool?
How are the pathways structured and updated?

How will the pathways be customized to fit physician preferences?

Does the pathway reduce or control processes and clinical performance variations?

Discussion Forum 6 Question 3

Electronic medical records (EMR) solve the problem of paper pile up in files and reduce the space of storage as well as improvement of quality of service (Porché, 2008). EMR makes it easy to access the medical history of patience. A physician will be able to authenticate the kind of drug errors that may arise in the case of treatment. In his work Scarlat, (2012) stated that Electronic medical records enable doctors see what other doctors have been doing to a specific patient, they are able to verify what has worked or failed. These safes money and time and gives a more accurate diagnosis especially in the case of chronic diseases. With these kinds of systems, a doctor can be able to take preventive measures.

Information such as age sex and family can give a doctor background information leading to a better diagnosis (Block, 2006). For instance, in a family unit with a record of diabetes, the doctor will advise a patient to get a test. The system is also capable of giving alerts on when to go for checkups. On the contrary, EMRs are very difficult to construct as most of the data is sparsely placed and has dissimilar code systems. It is also very difficult to code physical information.

Discussion Forum 7 Question 1

Demand management is a process that involves planning and forecasting skills for patients to receive good care in the right environment. These also enable minimize the number of referrals. Demand management saves the patient from unwarranted costs since they are first accessed if they are ready and fit for a specific treatment (Guinness,2011).

Discussion Forum 7 Question 2

According to Penner, (2013) Case management targets patients with high risk because of health, social and functional problems while disease management targets patients who have one major health problem and have a given set of needs. Rossi, (2008) affirmed that for disease management to be effective it requires a whole community’s participation. It is a population health strategy and can be effective in prevention and the management of diseases.