Assignment

In preparation for a meeting with upper-level management, you decide to conduct research on the role of statistical forecasting in decision analysis.

Write a paper of 5-7 pages discussing the importance of accreditation and credentialing, strategies for quality improvement, and the role of statistics and statistical forecasting in the process. Your paper should address the following:

• What are the steps involved in the statistical forecasting process?

• Provide at least 3 examples of statistical analysis tools used for forecasting.

• What role does statistical forecasting play in the quantitative health care decision analysis process?

• How can forecasting used to determine the needs within an organization for purposes of quality improvement?

• Your discussion should include how you can use statistical forecasting related to patient treatment, readmissions, emergency room (ER) wait times, and so forth as a means of determining what areas to focus on for the quality initiative.

Also, but seperate

• Based on your review of the data, you have identified 3 key areas of concern that you would like to address as part of the quality improvement initiative. If not addressed, these areas of concern may affect the organizations accreditation and/or profitability:

o Patients are having to wait for extended periods of time in the emergency room (ER).
o AKT is not implementing effective capacity management strategies for the resources that are currently available.
o There are a high number of readmissions due to patients being discharged too early.

You decide to work with staff and management to develop and implement new policies that are grounded in evidence-based practice (EBP). To communicate the new policies with the staff, you will write a 2-page memo addressing the areas of concern and the new EBP policies that now be in place. In the memo, address the following:

o Discuss the 3 areas of concern and how these can affect accreditation and/or financial status of the organization.

o What is evidence-based practice?

o How can evidence-based practice approaches be used to improve health care outcomes?

o A set of new policies and procedures that includes 2-3 strategies based on EBP approaches for each area of concern that will be effective immediately

o The memo should cite specific examples from the research reviewed regarding EBP approaches to resolving the issues.