Background For Assignment:

Accreditation can be used as a successful approach to address, measure, and report accountability in health care. However, it requires metrics and accountability at multiple levels of the health care system. The question is: Can accreditation evolve to meet the demand for accountability across a continuum of care vs. individual segments of that continuum? Or does it matter who accredits the organization, or who is certified? Accreditation can meet some of the challenges; however, there are still barriers, such as reimbursement models, to be overcome. In addition, the private sector has made federal efforts easier in moving away from the basic fee-for-service payments to value-based. Stakeholder needs are the key to maintaining some balance and a fair approach to shifting financial risk to providers of care and thus should be considered. As processes are examined and each step is evaluated by the value it adds or subtracts, each resource used for quality improvement must examine both the value and costs associated with its use.

This week, you will evaluate the success of Triple Aim programs and recommend improvement strategies within a health care organization. You will analyze benchmarks and national standards and recommend initiatives that address deficiencies/opportunities in quality with timeframes for the next data evaluation and new analysis.

Learning Objectives

Students will:
- Evaluate why Triple Aim programs are successful
- Recommend strategies to improve implementation of health care quality initiatives within health care organizations
- Analyze benchmarks and national standards
- Recommend initiatives that address deficiencies/opportunities in quality
- Recommend time frames for re-evaluating data and conducting new analysis

Assignment Title: Final Project-Analysis of a Quality Improvement Program

This week the Final Project is designed to give you an opportunity to analyze a quality improvement program. You will analyze data related to benchmarks and national standards and suggest two goals for initiatives that address any deficiencies/opportunities in quality. Anticipated outcomes will also be identified, and appropriate time frames to re-evaluate data and provide a new analysis will be addressed.

To prepare:

Read the case study Patient Safety at Grand River Hospital & St. Mary's General Hospital in your Learning Resources.

Conduct an analysis of the case and write a 10- to 12-page (excluding title page and references) report including:
- Data analysis against benchmarks and national standards
- Observations about where quality improvements are needed
- Goals for initiatives that address those deficiencies/opportunities in quality
- Outcomes that are anticipated in order to accomplish the initiatives
- Appropriate time frames to re-evaluate data and provide a new analysis. Justify your response

Note: Your Project must be written in standard edited English. Be sure to support your work with at least eight high-quality references, including four from peer-reviewed journals. Refer to the Essential Guide to APA Style for Walden Students to ensure that your in-text citations and reference list are correct. This Project will be graded using this rubric: Final Project Rubric (PDF). Your Project should show effective application of triangulation of content and resources in your conclusion and recommendations.