NURS 6231 Week 7: Improvement Science

Section 3: Quality Measurement and Assessment Continue working on Section 3, introduced in Week 6. To prepare:

 

 Think about the quality improvement issue that you are addressing and the associated plan you are developing. Consider the following:

 

o What is the overall purpose, or aim, of doing this work?

 

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o What would you hope to achieve for the organization by undertaking this project? What are the objectives of this initiative?

 

o What value would this work add to the organization? o How would this work improve practice and create outcomes with impact?

 

 Review Chapter 7 of the Sadeghi, Barzi, Mikhail, and Shabot course text. Consider how addressing this quality improvement issue would align with the organization’s mission, vision, values, and strategic goals and objectives. How does it relate to regulatory issues, and other matters that are significant for the organization? If you notice a misalignment, use this as an opportunity to refine your focus.

 

 With this in mind, continue to hone your development of this Assignment, integrating the concepts addressed here into Section 3.

 

To complete: Write a 3- to 5-page paper that includes:

 

 An introduction to your quality improvement plan, including the overarching aim of this initiative and an explanation of how it aligns with the mission, vision, values, and strategic goals and objectives of the organization, as well as regulatory issues and other matters that are significant for the organization

 

 An overview of the current situation with regard to this quality improvement issue in the organization

 

 A description of measures and indicators

 

 A presentation on data related to this issue, including: o Actual historical and current data and / or a description of the methods you

 

would use to collect and analyze the data o Methods for collecting and analyzing data in the future, including when you

 

would do this

 

 A description of realistic, evidence-based targets Be sure to cite evidence from the literature to justify your selection of the measures and indicators, as well as the performance targets. Note: This section of the Course Project serves as the Portfolio Assignment for this course. Due by Day 7 of Week 8.

 

Section 4: Quality Improvement Strategies Start to think about quality improvement methods/strategies (these relate to bridging the gap between current performance and targets as established in Section 3).

 

To prepare:

 

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 Refer to the modified Donabedian model (access, structure, process, outcome, and patient experience) presented in Chapter 9 of the Sadeghi, Barzi, Mikhail, and Shabot text.

 

 Recall the performance targets that you identified for Section 3 (in Week 6). What does the recommendation that performance-driven planning should “begin with the end in mind” suggest given your established goals?

 

 Review the information presented in Chapter 9 of the Sadeghi, Barzi, Mikhail, and Shabot text, and think about how you would assess the organization’s strengths and weaknesses related to the performance gaps that you identified in Section 3 (Week 6).

 

 Based on the above, start to think of specific evidence-based strategies that could be implemented to close / minimize the performance gaps that you have identified. Consider both interventions (what) and processes (how). Focus on strategies that are supported by the latest research and could create systems-level change. These may be tentative for now, but be sure to identify at least one that specifically lends itself to a change in process (i.e., practice, protocol, pathway, activity).

 

Additional instructions for Section 4 are presented next week. To complete this Assignment, you will create a process map and write a paper describing quality improvement strategies. This Assignment is due by Day 7 of Week 8.