The purpose of measurement is to gather information, particularly as it is related to quality management in a healthcare organization For the healthcare administrator who must measure quality in their facility, the cycle of measurement, assessment, and improvement is crucial Conducting this cycle allows a determination of why the traditional healthcare model at a hospital is succeeding or failing, and thus change can be structured and the Lean Sigma roadmap can be implemented
The Lean Sigma roadmap allows improvement to occur at the healthcare organization by using business improvement methodologies that employ Six Sigma Six Sigma is an excellent method to drive much higher reliability in a process by increasing accuracy and decreasing defects
For example, to improve the functioning and profitability of the skin cancer institute of a major university hospital system, hiring the best trained and experienced professional staff, purchasing and utilizing the most advanced diagnostic and treatment procedures and machinery, instituting the most advanced IT programs and documentation systems are all essential when applying the measurement cycle and pursing Six Sigma Higher reliability, increased accuracy, and decreased defects lead to improved revenues by increasing the number of patients served, minimizing malpractice issues and diagnostic/treatment mistakes, and improving patient outcomes
Upon completion of this assignment, you should be able to:
Compare and contrast various outcomes assessment tools – their reliability and validity – used in healthcare quality assessment
Understand measurement in quality management in a healthcare organization
Evaluate performance and assessment of quality management
Resources
Textbook: Introduction to Healthcare Quality Management
Textbook: Lean Sigma – Rebuilding Capacity in Healthcare
Report: Combined Assessment Program Review of the New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Video: Comparing Health Care Quality: A Road Map to Better Care
Background Information
Healthcare organizations measure many aspects of performance, such as medical needs of the community, revenues, profitability, numbers and types of patients treated, malpractice issues, and demographics Some of these are mandated by external regulatory, licensing, and accreditation groups Some of these external groups include HITECH, CLIA, HEDIS, NCQA, AHRQ, and others
To affect performance improvement at a hospital, quality measurements must be undertaken Quality measurement criteria include metrics, performance, customer service, and other structure/process/outcome performance measures To build and utilize an effective quality measurement system, a data collection program must be designed to be reliable, be capable of adequate sampling, have inter-rater reliability, and use evidence-based performance measures
Useful quality measurement must use performance goals that are quantifiable These goals employ opinion, criteria, and performance comparisons so that the healthcare administrator can identify strengths and weaknesses in the healthcare organization and affect meaningful change Once the strengths and weaknesses are identified, change models can be employed, Lean Sigma instituted, and a program direction used to reach Six Sigma goals Measuring and evaluating performance allows opportunities to be identified, particularly in the United States where healthcare is retail and for-profit, and revenue growth, cost reduction, and cash enhancement are maximized
Instructions
Read the following chapters the textbook Introduction to Healthcare Quality Management:
Chapter 3, “Measuring Performance”
Chapter 4, “Evaluating Performance”
Read the following chapters the textbook Lean Sigma – Rebuilding Capacity in Healthcare:
Chapter 1, “Existing Change Models”
Chapter 2, “Structuring Change”
Chapter 3, “Lean Sigma Roadmap”
Read the report “Combined Assessment Program Review of the New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, New Mexico” at wwwvagov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-12-00881-203PDF
Watch the video “Comparing Health Care Quality: A Road Map to Better Care” at https://wwwyoutubecom/watch?v=5seWqqYBL4s
Navigate to the threaded discussion below and respond to the following Research actual healthcare systems and use this data to base your critical discussions and conclusions on
Evaluate and define validity and reliability of healthcare improvement performance tools What tools work or don’t work, and why?
Discuss the pros and cons of using Lean Sigma versus Lean Transformation and other assessment programs
Discuss the pros and cons of assessing performance in quality measurement activities
Discuss the pros and cons of identifying and defining evidence-based clinical measures
Discuss criteria, performance comparison and assessment, benchmarking, statistical process control, etc, used in healthcare quality management
Discuss the degree of reliability and validity in healthcare quality assessment tools
Your initial post is due by the end of the fourth day of the workshop
Read and respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings, as well as all follow-up instructor questions directed to you, by the end of the workshop
Your discussion should:
Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking
Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas
Provide clarification to classmates’ questions an
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