The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is an independent, nonprofit organization whose work has helped draw attention to quality concerns in health care. Two IOM reports, To Err is Human and Crossing The Quality Chasm, particularly stand out for the provocative effect that they have had on quality improvement efforts.
To prepare for this Application, review this week's Learning Resources, including the executive summaries of the two IOM reports and the article "Patient Safety at Ten: Unmistakable Progress, Troubling Gaps."
The Assignment
Write a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:
From your perspective as a health care professional and/or consumer, summarize two or three of the most important messages of the IOM reports To Err is Human and Crossing the Quality Chasm.
Analyze at least two of the changes proposed in these reports, and explain how they are expected to contribute toward the desired improvements.
Briefly assess some of the challenges related to these changes. (Select at least one challenge for each change you have chosen to focus on.)
This report was published by the Institute of Medicine in 2001 to highlight the significant gap between the state of health care quality and where it should be. The report draws attention to the need to improve the U.S. health care delivery system as a whole, and identifies six areas for improvement: safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity. Although only the executive summary is required this week, you are strongly encouraged to read additional sections of this report as you proceed through the course.
Article: Wachter, R. (2010). Patient safety at ten: Unmistakable progress, troubling gaps. Health Affairs, 29(1), 165-173. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
This article presents an analysis of progress in patient safety since the publication of the IOM report To Err is Human. As you read this article, evaluate the author's critique, and consider recent developments that continue to shape patient safety efforts in health care.
Web Article: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (n.d.). Quality/Equality: Talking about quality. Retrieved from http://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/program-areas/quality-equality.html
This resource presents health care statistics, facts, and messages related to health care quality and reform. The collection of slides describes the current state of health care quality, goals for the future, and ways to achieve those goals.
Web Sites
Web Site: Kaiser Family Foundation
Quality of Care http://www.kaiseredu.org/topics.asp?id=70&isID=30&refID=31&sidenav=249&smart=59&tuID=65
Health Reform http://kff.org/health-reform/
Health Reform Implementation Timeline (information on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) http://kff.org/interactive/implementation-timeline/
The Kaiser Family Foundation Web site contains a wealth of information related to health care quality.
Use at least 3-4 resources and sight within the paper, and create reference page
Your written assignments must follow APA guidelines. Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week's Learning Resources and from additional scholarly sources as appropriate. Refer to the Essential Guide to APA Style for Walden Students to ensure that your in-text citations and reference list are correct.