Quality Improvement Plan - Essay Example

Quality Improvement Plan The areas of improvements that seem to derail the achievement of quality services in the organization include poor management of hospital utilities, poor risk management and inadequate satisfaction survey among the physicians, staff and patients. Starting off with poor management of utilities, the nursing home contains various departments and with the aim to come up with a valuable system to manage the scarce resources. The best viable option for this problem is the implementation and the use of ICT to ensure proper management and track the system for weaknesses and therefore corrective measures to be taken for containment of the error (Peg, 1993). Management of Utilities The ICT is aimed at increasing quality of care and efficiency by ensuring proper transfer of information because the efficient transfer of information in health care is indispensable. The elderly are more susceptible to chronic diseases and therefore have many physicians and are shuttled to and from multiple care settings. The management of such sophisticated programs needs a decisive action to ensure the smooth flow of management of these utilities. This implementation will also reduce the operation costs of the various clinical services offered by saving time with data processing and by the reduction multiple handling of documents. The use of electronic medical records or electronic health records has been shown to improve access to patients’ medical records, guidelines and medication risks (OECD, 2010). The reduction of administrative costs also comes as one of the advantages of utilization and use of ICT in the health care sector. For example the use of electronic claim processing has been shown to save huge administrative costs as opposed to using paper transactions. On the other hand, ICT will help in the management of information across all the departments in the center (OECD, 2010). Risk Management The major areas that require risk management in any nursing home and more particularly in this centre include the food services, medication monitoring and contract staffing. Various complain have been experienced in the past about the food quality offered to the elderly in various nursing homes. With the attainment of quality health care, good food quality plays a significant role in ensuring patients and various stakeholders’ confidence with the organization (WHO, 2001). This will be attained by initiating health inspections regularly and ensuring quality control through use of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). Life safety in the other end is very vital in ensuring quality health care for the elderly as they are vulnerable to injuries. Establishment of proper structures that ensure safety for the elderly is vital and needs to be implemented in this organization. Contracting staff is a measure of performance evaluation which monitors the value of each employee and establishes various ways in which their performance can be enhanced. The deficiencies of the workforce in most nursing homes have contributed to debates on the effectiveness of the services offered in these institutions (WHO, 2001). The introduction of performance contracts is aimed at ensuring quick response to emergencies and increasing the quality of medical care. Satisfaction Monitoring The various stakeholders in the nursing home are key to the maintenance and the running of this organization and their satisfaction is therefore very important. This can be monitored by using questionnaire filling forms with questions aimed at establishing their satisfaction with the services offered in the organization. Further, the survey can require them to give suggestions on improvement strategies in order to cut down on the recurrent of such weaknesses. Data Required in Monitoring Improvement The data required to monitor performance evaluation can be obtained from a routine source such as the health information systems. The kinds of data needed to evaluate improvements in these areas include interviews from key informants which include the various stakeholders such as the patients and the physicians. Review reports can also be vital in obtaining data from various organizations to compare and therefore establish the weaknesses of the organization. Another significant data source that would be helpful is the activity reports that aim at establishing whether all inputs are delivered on timely basis. The human source inventory on the other hand is a significant data source that can be used in monitoring the staff performance (OECD, 2010). The budgets and work plans can also serve as useful data sources in ensuring the areas of improvements needed are adequately financed in the budget. Tools for Data Collection Performance indicators can be used in the measurement of inputs, processes, outputs, outcomes and the impacts of various elements in the organization. Sound data collection tools are however important in ensuring accurate measurement with the indicators (OECD, 2010). Logical Framework Approach In performance evaluation and monitoring, it helps to establish whether the various laid down procedures or programs meet their objectives. It aims at detection whether the various groups aimed at benefiting from the project get their due. This will ensure that staff contracting in risk management is monitored for its effectiveness and the laid down strategies in risk management are working properly (Carolyn, 2006). This method helps collect data useful in setting performance targets and eventually enhance the comparison of various units in the organization. Strengths 1. Decision makers are able to obtain answers on fundamental questions and the analysis of assumptions and risks. 2. It ensures the engagement of stakeholders in the planning and monitoring process. Weaknesses 1. It incorporates many data sources which may not be accessible. Theory Based Evaluation This tool is useful when one wants to carry an in depth analysis on any program or project. For example, the organization may want to improve health care by increasing the number of nurses. This tool is significant in the measurement of such programs and is also capable of incorporating many other factors that would affect the performance of the project (Carolyn, 2006). Strengths 1. After data collection, it ensures feedback of what is and what is not working and the reasons. 2. It provides basis to assess the likely impacts of programs. Weaknesses 1. Can become overly complex in data collection and certain factors can be assumed resulting to biased data collection. All the tools are similar in that they collect data for analysis in an attempt to review factors hindering proper performance and in the establishment of guidelines that improve the same (Carolyn, 2006). Formal Surveys This is used in collecting information from a selected sample of people in a particular target group. It establishes comparison of different groups at a given point in time and changes that occur with time. Strengths and Weaknesses The findings can be applied to the wider target group or the entire employees in the organization. The processing and analysis of the collected data is a major stalemate when considering a large group of interviewees. Many different kinds of information cannot be obtained through mare interviews. Displaying of Quality Improvement data Bar Charts There are many tools that can be used in displaying quality improvement data and include charts and spreadsheets. Bars charts for example are used to show numbers, proportions and ratios. Comparisons in the various units of the organization can be done using pie charts and in comparing two variables, line charts and run charts are preferred (WHO, 2001). Report Cards This utilizes functions such as percentile in comparing the performance of various units in the organization. Values and graphics are assigned for different levels of performance. Results can be viewed in a bar report card that shows the various compared levels of performance (WHO, 2001). They display the areas requiring assistance in order for the aim of quality care to be achieved. References World Health Organization (WHO) (2001) Guidelines for Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Sector Reforms in the African Region. Retrieved from: http://www.afro.who.int/en/divisions-a-programmes/dsd/health-policy-a-service-delivery/hps-publications/doc_download/2216-guidelines-for-monitoring-and-evaluation-of-health-sector-reforms-in-the-african-region.html Carolyn,T. (2006). Prospecting for Improvement in Indiana Association for Healthcare Quality: Using Excel to Display Performance Improvement Data. Indiana, Clarian Health Partners. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development-OECD (2010).Improving Health Sector Efficiency: The Role of Information and Communication Technologies. Paris, OECD Publishing. Peg, R.(1993). Risk Management in the Practice of Nursing. Boston, Beth Israel Hospital Read More