Quality Research

Health care professionals must be able to review and evaluate the use of evidence in health care quality literature. This involves critical thinking skills and discernment, as well as a sound knowledge of the characteristics of quality measurement.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Identify one of the six dimensions of quality (safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, or equity) that you would like to focus on for this Discussion.

Conduct research using the Walden library and select an article that relates to the quality dimension you have selected. You may use any credible resource for your research. The following are a few examples of journals that you may wish to include in your search: The Lancet, The New England Journal of Medicine, The Journal of the American Medical Association, the Journal of American Medical Informatics Association, and the Journal of Nursing Care Quality. The article you select must have a robust discussion of quality research to meet the requirements of this Discussion.

Evaluate the use of evidence in this article. Consider the various criteria identified in this week's Learning Resources (e.g, the reliability and validity of data, proper experimental design, accurate statistical analysis).

Answer each question separately with bold heading:

Questions for assignment:

- Identify the article you have selected in the first line of your posting and note the related quality dimension(s).

- Briefly summarize the article.

- Evaluate the use of evidence in this article. Explain the ease or difficulty you experienced in assessing the evidence as a result of the information provided in the article. Share your analysis of the necessary characteristics of quality measurement.

- Share quality-related questions or insights you have gained from reading this article.

Application: Patient Safety Risks

As noted in the Institute of Medicine report, To Err is Human, "It may be part of human nature to err, but it is also part of human nature to create solutions, find better alternatives, and meet the challenges ahead" (Institute of Medicine, 1999, p. 15).

What are the most common-or most significant-risks to patient safety? How do these risks vary in different health care settings or with disparate groups of patients? What can be done to address these risks? You will explore these questions and more in this Application Assignment.

To prepare for this Application:

Begin by brainstorming types of health care organizations and groups of patients (e.g., geriatric patients requiring chronic care, pediatric patients admitted for acute care). Identify a particular type of setting and/or patient population to help you pinpoint your focus for the following step.

Review the National Patient Safety Goals, the CDC's NHSN Web site, and the information on patient safety concerns presented in the other Learning Resources. Select a specific patient safety risk (e.g., patient falls, medication reconciliation) to focus on for this assignment.

Analyze the systems errors and/or human factors errors that should be considered with regard to this safety risk.

Reflect on related insights that could be gained from high-reliability organizations. What approaches do these organizations use that might be applicable within a health care organization?

Consider the strategies and tools (e.g., Six Sigma, Lean) that could be used to assess and reduce this particular risk.

Evaluate the potential benefits of patient and family involvement and steps that could be taken to ensure that they are included in this endeavor.

The Assignment

Write a aper that addresses the following:

- Briefly summarize the patient safety risk you have selected, and provide a rationale for why it deserves particular attention.

- Analyze the influence of systems errors and human factors errors with regard to this risk.

- Discuss related insights that could be gained from high-reliability organizations and how they might be applied within a health care organization.

- Propose strategies and tools for assessing and reducing risk related to this safety issue.

- Describe how patients and patients' families can be involved in addressing this issue.