Based On The Plan-Do-Study-Act Model In Week 3 ✓ Solved

Based on the Plan-Do-Study-Act model described in week 3

Based on the Plan-Do-Study-Act model described in week 3 as the quality improvement model, the quality improvement will involve a series of steps which will be focused at planning the plan, trying the plan on an evidence-based practice, observing the results and acting accordingly. This will be based on the results that will be collected from the performance of the improvement plan. The details of the quality improvement plan and the steps to be followed are hereby outlined. The first step in the process will be the planning stage which will involve identification of the goals or the purpose of the plan. The purpose of the quality improvement plan is to address the practice problems that were identified by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment scale and confirmed by the QAPI scale.

The problems to be addressed by the plan are misinterpretation of the ESAS tool by some of the hospice team members. Also, the challenge of translating the severity of the patient’s symptoms into a scale. The goal is that addressing of the two problems would rectify the results that were proved by the QAPI tracker indicating that the goal of increased nurse visits towards the death of the patient was not achieved. In the same stage, the interventions for change will be formulated which include extensive trainings to the hospice team members among others. The metrics which are to be used in assessing the success of the plan will also be determined in the same stage.

In measuring the success of the plan, a metric system such as the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and System will be used in determining the success of the plan through feedback on the patient experience. The next step will be to implement the components of the plan which will involve selecting the measures to monitor the progress. The changes will be developed in this stage in order to realize at the quality improvement in the hospice services. Small tests will be conducted at this stage using samples to test the efficiency of the plan and at the same time mitigate risks that may arise if the plan is used on a full-scale basis. Adaptation of additional changes will be done in the same stage to increase the efficiency of the quality improvement model.

Any barriers that might arise in implementation of the quality improvement model will be identified and dealt with at the same stage. Among the expected barriers may involve resistance from some of the hospice team members. Another barrier as identified in one of the research studies is that some patients might not understand the ESAS tool and will have to be trained if they are used as part of the sample respondents. The fourth stage will be studying the results which will involve monitoring the outcomes of the test and assessing the validity of the plan to determine areas of success or errors and those areas that need improvements. In achieving this, the outcomes will be compared with the criteria set in the planning stage to enhance variation analysis between the standard outcomes and the actual incomes.

The fourth and last step in the quality improvement plan will be acting which involve reassessing and responding to the outcomes based on the analysis done on the outcomes in the study stage. This step will involve measuring the success and failures of the plan using the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and System. The areas that can be improved on the plan will be addressed and if the plan will have succeeded will be integrated in the hospice system.

Paper For Above Instructions

The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model is a widely recognized framework for quality improvement (QI) in healthcare settings. In hospice care, implementing the PDSA model can significantly enhance the quality of life for patients in their final stages by addressing practice gaps such as those revealed by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) scale (Spath, 2018). This paper discusses how the PDSA model can be systematically applied to resolve issues like the misinterpretation of ESAS data among hospice care providers, ensuring better care delivery through targeted improvements.

Planning Stage: The initial phase involves identifying specific goals aimed at mitigating misunderstandings related to the ESAS tool. This step is crucial as it sets the stage for measurable outcomes. The primary practice problems identified include inaccurate symptom assessments leading to inappropriate nursing visits, which do not adequately correspond with patients' decline (Leclair, 2016; Venkat, 2016). Training interventions for hospice staff are proposed to address these issues, emphasizing the correct interpretation of the ESAS tool and the significance of increasing nursing visits based on accurate symptom assessments.

Implementation Stage: During the implementation phase, the proposed change initiatives will be introduced. Initially, a pilot training program will be rolled out to a select group of hospice team members, focusing on effective techniques for utilizing the ESAS tool (Jiao & Hong-yan, 2017). Data will be collected throughout this phase to monitor training effectiveness and identify any barriers arising from team resistance or patient misunderstandings of the ESAS tool. Adjustments to the program will be made as necessary based on feedback and initial observations.

Study Stage: The outcomes of the pilot initiatives will be carefully analyzed in this phase. Key metrics such as the increase in skilled nursing visits and improved patient symptom management reports will be collated (Tanaka et al., 2017). A comparative analysis will be performed against the pre-implementation QAPI data, allowing for a clear view of the initiative's impact. Areas of success will be identified alongside specific shortcomings that need further improvement.

Acting Stage: Finally, in the acting phase, the findings from the study stage will inform the next steps. If the new training has led to a statistically significant increase in nursing visits correlated with a decline in patient symptoms, the initiative will be expanded to the entire hospice team. However, if outcomes are not as robust as expected, additional interventions will be considered, such as more intensive training or alternative educational tools (Spath, 2018). Continuous feedback loops within this stage help to adapt the model to meet ongoing healthcare quality improvement needs.

Throughout the PDSA process, it is essential to adhere to ethical considerations. For instance, it is necessary to ensure that training materials respect the diverse backgrounds of patients and care providers (Leman, 2016). The underlying ethical frameworks such as Ethical Egoism and Social Contract Theory provide valuable insights into the decision-making processes regarding end-of-life care (Leclair, 2016).

In conclusion, applying the PDSA model within hospice care serves to enhance the accuracy in symptom assessment and ultimately improves patient outcomes through increased nursing interventions during critical periods. As evidenced, the importance of cohesive communication among hospice team members cannot be overstated, as it directly impacts patients' quality of care at the end of their lives. The iterative nature of the PDSA model, combined with adherence to ethical principles, aligns with the goal of providing compassionate and effective hospice care.

References

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