Quality Improvement Improvements

Great Essays
Improving the health care system can play a crucial role in the delivery of safe, cost effective patient care. Many governing bodies mandate quality improvement in healthcare. Quality improvement initiatives are a result of systems failure. A thorough investigation into the failure can reveal where and how the system can make improvements. Collection of data is essential for evaluation of quality improvement measures. This document will examine a quality improvement issue with identification of the key stakeholders. The root cause of the problem will be investigated and steps for improvement will be provided along with qualitative and quantitative means of measuring quality improvements.

Quality Improvement Initiative Recognized
Sentinel
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Sentinel nodes were not being identified causing patients to undergo the procedure a second time. Additional incidents revealed the nodes dissected were not the sentinel node and the oncologists were forced to make their best guess as to the course of treatment prescribed. These adverse events prompted the quality improvement team to …show more content…
Data collected is subsequently analyzed to confirm if the objectives are being met, unintended consequences are occurring or additional process improvement is essential (Varkey, P., Reller, M. K., & Resar, R. K., 2007). To evaluate the process improvement initiatives, data is compiled by chart audits and patient satisfaction questionnaires. The data collected reveals the operation start time and patient satisfaction survey. These qualitative and quantitative measures document the efficacy of the improvement plan. The objectives of the improvement initiatives are to increase patient satisfaction and decrease healthcare costs by eliminating the need for a second surgery. Additionally, it should promote safe patient care by promoting a more accurate treatment plan. Ongoing evaluation is necessary to ensure that the improvements are

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