Introduction
Variation exists in every industry and there are different types of variation. Patients may use the data collected about variations to determine what physician to schedule an appointment with for a medical condition, what facility to have a procedure at based on outcomes, what percentage of patients have complications, or even look at what facilities are using more of evidence-based care approaches. The focus in healthcare is on three different types of variation that may influence the care of a patient, the operations of a healthcare facility, and influence healthcare providers on decisions that they may make with care for a patient. The concept of variation within the medical field has been in discussion since 1938 in England and Wales (Joshi, Ransom, Nash, & Ransom, 2014). The …show more content…
Process variation is used within the hospital setting with chlorhexidine wipes preoperatively before surgery, as well as having the patient use an antibacterial soap at home the night before and day of surgery. The research and studies at this writer’s current facility show that the antibacterial soap is just as effective as preventing infection as the chlorhexidine wipes that are used at the hospital immediately before surgery. With that being said, the new protocol is to have the patients use the soap at home and in addition to using the wipes when they arrive at the hospital. Another example of the use of process variation is that more rural areas were in disagreement with the recommendation for women to get mammograms for breast cancer screening, but rather use self exams more frequently, which was also contributed to anxiety levels and varying education levels of the patients and unclear guidelines for physicians to order such exams (Corallo, et al.,
Variation exists in every industry and there are different types of variation. Patients may use the data collected about variations to determine what physician to schedule an appointment with for a medical condition, what facility to have a procedure at based on outcomes, what percentage of patients have complications, or even look at what facilities are using more of evidence-based care approaches. The focus in healthcare is on three different types of variation that may influence the care of a patient, the operations of a healthcare facility, and influence healthcare providers on decisions that they may make with care for a patient. The concept of variation within the medical field has been in discussion since 1938 in England and Wales (Joshi, Ransom, Nash, & Ransom, 2014). The …show more content…
Process variation is used within the hospital setting with chlorhexidine wipes preoperatively before surgery, as well as having the patient use an antibacterial soap at home the night before and day of surgery. The research and studies at this writer’s current facility show that the antibacterial soap is just as effective as preventing infection as the chlorhexidine wipes that are used at the hospital immediately before surgery. With that being said, the new protocol is to have the patients use the soap at home and in addition to using the wipes when they arrive at the hospital. Another example of the use of process variation is that more rural areas were in disagreement with the recommendation for women to get mammograms for breast cancer screening, but rather use self exams more frequently, which was also contributed to anxiety levels and varying education levels of the patients and unclear guidelines for physicians to order such exams (Corallo, et al.,