Identify a quality improvement opportunity in your organization or practice. In a 1,250-1,500 word paper, describe the problem or issue and propose a quality improvement initiative based on evidence-based practice. Apply "The Road to Evidence-Based Practice" process, illustrated in Chapter 4 of your textbook, to create your proposal. Include the following: Provide an overview of the problem and the setting in which the problem or issue occurs. Explain why a quality improvement initiative is needed in this area and the expected outcome

Identify a quality improvement opportunity in your organization or practice. In a 1,250-1,500 word paper, describe the problem or issue and propose a quality improvement initiative based on evidence-based practice. Apply "The Road to Evidence-Based Practice" process, illustrated in Chapter 4 of your textbook, to create your proposal. Include the following: Provide an overview of the problem and the setting in which the problem or issue occurs. Explain why a quality improvement initiative is needed in this area and the expected outcome

The Institute of Medicine defines quality improvement in healthcare provision as ‘the
degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired
health outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge’. Although there is a
universal consensus on the need for quality improvement in healthcare, the effective means of
achieving desirable improvement in overall care is not fully understood. According to McGlynn
et al. 2003, different studies in this area reveal widespread gaps in attaining acceptable levels of
quality health care, exposing critical challenges in developing effective quality improvement
programs for society.

Communication and cordination with cancer patients

Although most countries allocate massive resources on healthcare, the current delivery
system still faces significant quality challenges. Effective communication and coordination of
care services across the continuum of care poses critical challenges for those requiring long-term
management of chronic conditions. Lack of adequate pain control in cancer patients has been
noted as a critical problem in care. Ineffective communication between patients and health care
providers has been cited as a key barrier to adequate treatment of pain. Specific communication
deficiencies have resulted in the inability of many providers to appropriately assess pain and on
misperceptions of patients that may lead them to under report pain. Although not specific to pain
management,a number of studies have examined patient–provider communication and other
quality-of-care issues surrounding treatment of cancer as well as issues specific to end-of-life
care.

Running head: QUALITY_IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL

Why improvement is necessary for cancer patients
When you are diagnozed with cancer, you go are traumatised and often undergo
diagnosis and treatment without getting adequate and appropriate information on the available
treatment options and their immediate financial and socio-economic implications. The time lapse
between diagnosis, disclosure of bad news in prognosis and in end-of-life decision making is
more often too long causing unnecessary stress to the patients and dependants.

Expected outcome

There is need for cancer patients to get the necessay psychosocial support to help them
accept their new health burden coupled with smooth and clear communication of the available
management options and the expectations of each choice of action. Cancer patients expect a
supportive team of care givers who are ready to listen to their presentations and willing to go
with them on this journey of learning the new requirements of their present station in life.
Prompt assignment to their beds without letting them undergo severe pain waiting long hours
without being attended to add to the agony of cancer patients increasing their diminishing their
chances of fast recovery.
Steps necessary
Since cancer patients undergo a lot of pain, they want to undergo extensive testing.
Furthermore, patients expect relevant information to be provided and to get advice about
different aspects of their illness. Psychosocial support is also expected. They express a desire for
consistency of care as well as continuity of care, and prefer long and intensive follow-up. After
learning of having cancer, patients lose confidence in their bodies and fear cancer recurrence
after the end of treatment, which increase their wish for more intensive screening. This may not