Discussion: Identifying Practice Gaps for Quality Improvement NURS 8302 Discussion: Identifying Practice Gaps for Quality Improvement

Discussion: Identifying Practice Gaps for Quality Improvement NURS 8302 Discussion: Identifying Practice Gaps for Quality Improvement

Every healthcare organization is expected to deliver quality services to its clients. It, therefore, remains the role of every healthcare provider to ensure their clients have access to quality. In cases of a gap in quality, a lot of input is required to close the gap to achieve the highest level of quality services that the organization requires. A critical component of improving quality scores and outcomes is recognizing the challenges faced by healthcare providers in closing gap in care and and then building quality improvement strategies.  My discussion below analyzes the steps towards achieving a close to perfect delivery of healthcare that would benefit my organization as well.

The perfect way to identify a gap in the quality of the healthcare delivery system is through the claims data. Claims data is an element of data that contains a preview of quality from both the clients and the providers. An analysis of the claims data is a perfect reflection of what goes on within the healthcare fraternity that pertains to the healthcare gaps within each situation (Riley et al., 2020). In the current organizations, providers are not equipped to meet the main drivers of quality. However, it is possible to trace the problem and define a perfect solution through the claims data.

A potential quality improvement program is realized through provisions of timely and quality action scorecards. The design of the scorecards helps deliver the message of improvement to the healthcare providers, including the nurses. Timely and quality action scorecards given to providers allow them to realize the gap in providing care to their patients, and so they begin to implement models of satisfying their patient’s needs (Sulo et al., 2017).

The first tool that can be used to address the quality improvement practice gap is population health analytics that assesses the population health risk and stratifies the solutions based on the gaps and risks identified within a  population (Tappen et al., 2017). For example, in a unit with a quality complaint through health analytics, it is possible to deploy more providers in the unit. The other tool is face-to-face contact, where the expert engages others until an agreement is reached on the solution to quality improvement and related gaps.

References

Riley, K., Sulo, S., Dabbous, F., Partridge, J., Kozmic, S., Landow, W., … & Sriram, K. (2020). Reducing hospitalizations and costs: a home health nutrition‐focused quality improvement program. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 44(1), 58-68. https://aspenjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jpen.1606.

Sulo, S., Feldstein, J., Partridge, J., Schwander, B., Sriram, K., & Summerfelt, W. T. (2017). Budget impact of a comprehensive nutrition-focused quality improvement program for malnourished hospitalized patients. American health & drug benefits, 10(5), 262. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5620506/.

Tappen, R. M., Wolf, D. G., Rahemi, Z., Engstrom, G., Rojido, C., Shutes, J. M., & Ouslander, J. G. (2017). Barriers and facilitators to implementing a change initiative in long-term care utilizing the INTERACT™ quality improvement program. The health care manager, 36(3), 219. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5533173/.