Week 1 Discussion: Quality Improvement Milestones – NURS 8300
Week 1 Discussion: Quality Improvement Milestones – NURS 8300
Throughout history, major events have influenced quality improvement efforts in health care. For example, the Institute of Medicine’s report To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System revealed statistics about errors in patient safety that result in thousands of deaths annually. Health care providers must be cognizant of the purpose and philosophy of quality improvement efforts as they lead the charge for improving health outcomes and patient safety. This Discussion is intended to help you understand how various developments have shaped contemporary perspectives and approaches to promoting health care quality.
Post a cohesive scholarly response that addresses the following:
When “To Err is Human” was published in 1999, it marked an important milestone in Quality Improvement Science.
- Analyze how this milestone has influenced the health care delivery system and nursing practice.
- Provide an example from your own work history and experience as to how the patient safety movement has affected your practice.
Post your response by Day 3 of this week.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.
By Day 7, respond to two of your colleagues in one or more of the following ways:
- Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.
- Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.
- Offer and support an alternative perspective, using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library.
- Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.
- Make a suggestion based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple postings.
- Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you learned and/or any insights you gained as a result of the comments made by your colleagues.
Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and any additional sources. Discussion: Quality Improvement Milestones
Click on the Reply button below to post your response.
NURS 8300 Week 1: Concepts of Quality and Patient Safety at the Organizational and System Level
Imagine the construction of a tower made from building blocks or the process of assembling a puzzle. In both scenarios, there are foundational blocks or multiple interlocking pieces. These foundational units are responsible for the overall construction of the larger outcome. In health care quality and patient safety, these “building blocks” or “ interlocking pieces” are represented by all the historical events and philosophies that culminate to establish the concepts of quality and patient care. When connected, these interlocking events are combined to form the system of overall health care organization.
This week, you examine the historical developments that have given rise to the increasing scrutiny of clinical service delivery by analyzing two reports published by the Institute of Medicine, To Err is Human and Crossing the Quality Chasm. You begin to examine foundational concepts of quality and patient safety, and assess how various events have shaped perspectives on health care quality today.
Learning Objectives for Week 1 Discussion: Quality Improvement Milestones – NURS 8300
By the end of this week, you will be able to:
- Analyze the history of quality improvement in health care from a systems perspective
- Evaluate the purpose and philosophy of quality improvement within a systems approach
Photo Credit: Science Photo Library / Brand X Pictures / Getty Images
Learning Resources
Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
Required Readings
Joshi, M.S., Ransom, E.R., Nash, D.B., & Ransom, S.B., (Eds.). (2014). The Healthcare Quality Book, 3rd ed. Chicago, IL: Health Adminisration Press.
- Chapter 1: “Healthcare Quality and the Patient”
- Chapter 2: “Basic Concepts of Healthcare Quality”
Kohn, L. T., Corrigan, J. M., & Donaldson, M. S. (Eds). (2000). To err is human: Building a safer health system. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
Executive summary: Released in 1999, this groundbreaking report provides the rationale for implementing comprehensive improvements in patient safety, an important subset of health care quality. Although only the executive summary is required this week, you are strongly encouraged to read additional sections of this report as you proceed through the course.
Institute of Medicine, Committee on Quality of Health Care in America. (2001). Crossing the quality chasm: A new health system for the 21st century. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
Executive summary: This report was published by the Institute of Medicine in 2001 to highlight the significant gap between the state of health care quality and where it should be. The report draws attention to the need to improve the U.S. health care delivery system as a whole, and identifies six areas for improvement: safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity. Although only the executive summary is required this week, you are strongly encouraged to read additional sections of this report as you proceed through the course.
Wachter, R. M. (2010). Patient safety at ten: Unmistakable progress, troubling gaps. Health Affairs, 29(1), 165–173.
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
This article presents an analysis of progress in patient safety since the publication of the IOM report, To Err is Human. As you read this article, evaluate the author’s critique, and consider recent developments that continue to shape patient safety efforts in health care. Week 1 Discussion: Quality Improvement Milestones – NURS 8300.
Required Media
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Organizational and systems leadership for quality improvement: Concepts of quality and patient safety. Baltimore: Author.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 14 minutes.
This video examines the recent history of the quality improvement movement, including two pivotal IOM reports, To Err is Human and Crossing the Quality Chasm. Dr. Donald Berwick introduces six dimensions of quality: safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity. Other topics addressed include transparency, the prevention of adverse events, and the usefulness of international comparisons for quality assessment and improvement.
Accessible player –Downloads– Download Video w/CC Download Audio Download Transcript
Discussion: Quality Improvement Milestones
Throughout history, major events have influenced quality improvement efforts in health care. For example, the Institute of Medicine’s report To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System revealed statistics about errors in patient safety that result in thousands of deaths annually. Health care providers must be cognizant of the purpose and philosophy of quality improvement efforts as they lead the charge for improving health outcomes and patient safety. This Discussion is intended to help you understand how various developments have shaped contemporary perspectives and approaches to promoting health care quality.
By Day 3
Post a cohesive scholarly response that addresses the following:
When “To Err is Human” was published in 1999, it marked an important milestone in Quality Improvement Science.
- Analyze how this milestone has influenced the health care delivery system and nursing practice.
- Provide an example from your own work history and experience as to how the patient safety movement has affected your practice.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.
By Day 7
Respond to two of your colleagues in one or more of the following ways:
- Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.
- Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.
- Offer and support an alternative perspective, using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library.
- Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.
- Make a suggestion based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple postings.
- Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you learned and/or any insights you gained as a result of the comments made by your colleagues.
Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and any additional sources.
SAMPLE APPROACH
This milestone has promoted preparation and release of report in medication errors which have significant improvements in health care. In 1999, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released report titled “To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System.” There was massive coverage of the report hence augmented response. This led to the president endorsing all the recommendations made by the IOM report as well as the comprehensive strategy for improving patient safety. Among the recommendations included safe, effective, equitable, efficient, and patient-centered care (Kohn, Corrigan, & Donaldson, 2000). Since release of this report, several payers such as the Centre for Medicare and Medicaid have come up with new quality and safety standards. These standards help guiding the delivery of healthcare, hence maintaining quality care (Joshi, Ransom, Nash, & Ransom, 2014).
In my practice as a nurse, these impacts of this milestone are still evident. Throughout the practice, nurses are always encouraged to deliver quality care that will see improved clinical outcomes. Among the initiatives taken to improve the quality of care is evidence based practice (Booth, 2012). Throughout my practice, I have been involved in searching for literature to support various interventions that seek to improve the quality of care deliver to patients. With evidence based practice, it reduces avoidable medical errors and identifies the most suitable intervention approaches. Evidence Based Practice has played a critical role in raising the quality of care throughout the healthcare sector. Week 1 Discussion: Quality Improvement Milestones – NURS 8300.
References
Booth, A. (2012). EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE. Handbook of Library Training Practice and Development: Volume Three, 335.
Joshi, M.S., Ransom, E.R., Nash, D.B., & Ransom, S.B Administration Press.., (Eds.). (2014). The Healthcare Quality
Book, 3rd ed. Chicago, IL: Health
Kohn, L. T., Corrigan, J. M., & Donaldson, M. S. (Eds). (2000). To err is human: Building a
safer health system. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.
Submission and Grading Information
Grading Criteria
Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 7
To participate in this Discussion:
Assignment: Major Assessment 6
The Week 1 Assignment requires completion of 13 IHI Open School modules and the completion of the Certificate of Completion Basic level. There are 13 modules which you must complete over the course of these 11 weeks. While they are learner paced, it is to your advantage to complete the modules in the week assigned as the content of the course is related to the modules.
To earn the 30 points associated with this application, you must complete all 13 modules and earn the certificate of completion. Partial credit is not permitted.
To access the IHI Certificate Program, go to IHI.org and open an account. Then search on Open school, Basic Certificate. Declare that you are a student at Walden University. You will have access to the modules (there is no charge for these as a student). You will earn contact hours for each module, and once all 13 are completed, you will download the certificate of achievement. Please save this certificate. You will be required to upload this to gradebook in evidence of your completion.
- Week 1: PS 101: Introduction to Patient Safety
- Week 1: QI 101: Introduction to Health Care Improvement
There is nothing to submit this week.
Week in Review
This week you analyzed the history of quality improvement health care from a systems perspective and evaluated the purpose and philosophy of quality improvement within a systems approach. Next week you will examine the influence of early theories of quality improvement and identify and evaluate health care quality and nurse-sensitive indicators.