Consider The Quality Measures That Are Currently A
Consider The Quality Measures That Are Currently A
Consider the quality measures that are currently analyzed at your practice location. If you do not have a current practice location, select a local healthcare facility or provider to answer the questions below. Include the following sections: Application of Course Knowledge: Answer all questions/criteria with explanations and detail.
Describe one clinical client-focused quality measure currently analyzed in your practice location. What data is collected, and from where is the data taken? Who is responsible for data collection, analysis, and reporting? How is the data critically evaluated to accurately reflect the desired care outcomes? Who makes the decisions to apply the data to practice change? What are advanced practice nurses’ key challenges when evaluating quality measures in healthcare settings?
Paper For Above instruction
In my healthcare practice, one prominent clinical client-focused quality measure is the rate of hospital readmissions within 30 days for patients with heart failure. This measure is essential because it directly reflects the quality of care provided during and immediately after hospitalization, highlighting areas in need of improvement to enhance patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs (Krumholz & Bernheim, 2019).
The data collected for this measure primarily comes from the hospital's electronic health records (EHR), which document admission and discharge details, medication reconciliation, follow-up instructions, and patient demographics. Additionally, readmission data is cross-referenced with insurance claims data to ensure accuracy and comprehensive tracking (Ho & Spertus, 2016). Data collection is typically overseen by the hospital’s quality improvement department, in collaboration with clinical staff, including nurses, physicians, and data analysts. Nurses play a vital role in gathering patient-specific information such as discharge summaries, medication adherence, and follow-up compliance (Allen et al., 2018).
The analysis involves examining patterns and trends in readmission rates over specific periods and identifying contributing factors like medication errors, socioeconomic barriers, or inadequate follow-up care. Critical evaluation uses benchmarking against national standards, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), to assess whether the facility is performing above or below expected levels (Krumholz et al., 2019). This process highlights discrepancies requiring intervention.
Decisions to apply the data for practice change typically rest with hospital quality councils, clinical leadership, and nursing management. These stakeholders interpret the analyzed data, identify areas for improvement, and develop targeted action plans. For example, if high readmission rates are linked to medication management issues, practice changes might include enhanced patient education or improved medication reconciliation procedures.
Advanced practice nurses (APNs) face several challenges when evaluating quality measures. These include limited access to complete data sets, balancing quality improvement initiatives with direct patient care responsibilities, and ensuring interventions are evidence-based and culturally sensitive (Rubenfeld et al., 2019). Additionally, APNs must navigate complex healthcare systems and varying priorities among stakeholders, which can hinder timely implementation of practice improvements. Despite these challenges, APNs are crucial in translating data into meaningful practice changes that improve patient outcomes and healthcare quality.
References
- Allen, J., Grayson, J., & Smarr, G. (2018). The role of nursing in quality improvement initiatives in hospitals. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 33(4), 317-324.
- Ho, P. M., & Spertus, J. A. (2016). The importance of evaluating quality measures in healthcare. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 9(1), 1-3.
- Krumholz, H. M., & Bernheim, S. M. (2019). Quality measurement in healthcare: A focus on readmission rates for heart failure. JAMA, 322(23), 2317–2318.
- Krumholz, H. M., et al. (2019). Standards for measuring hospital performance. Medical Care Research and Review, 76(4), 231-238.
- Rubenfeld, G. D., et al. (2019). Challenges faced by advanced practice nurses in quality improvement efforts: A qualitative study. Nursing Outlook, 67(3), 251-258.