Quality Improvement Student Project Proposal: Type Your Spec ✓ Solved

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT STUDENT PROJECT PROPOSAL: TYPE YOUR SPECIFIC

BACKGROUND

Setting: Here, describe the place that you will focus on for this proposal and the specific of that place.

Health Care Service: In this section, share the specific health care service that you are proposing a quality improvement for.

Problem: In this section, describe the specific problem you have found. Be sure to include evidence from sources that support this is a problem.

Barriers to Quality: Here, share any barriers that exist that hinder the quality that is needed. Be sure to provide evidence from sources to support your claims.

THE INTERVENTION

In this section, discuss the intervention or solution you are proposing to improve the quality of the problem you have identified. Provide evidence from sources to support your suggestions. Here, include the overall process that will be used to implement the proposed solution.

Aim (Objective): Here, state the objective of the proposed intervention.

STRATEGY FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Here, identify and describe the steps or the strategy that will be taken to implement the intervention.

Measures: In this space, share what will be used to measure the implementation of the intervention or how the results of the implementation will be measured.

Barriers to Change: Here, include a discussion of any barriers that could get in the way of the proposed change. Include any evidence from sources that can support your claims.

Simple Rules: Here, include the rule that will be satisfied by your proposed intervention.

Cost Implications: Here, include any costs associated with the proposed intervention.

Paper For Above Instructions

Quality Improvement Project Proposal: Enhancing Patient Safety in Medication Administration

BACKGROUND

Setting: The project will focus on a mid-sized community hospital in Springfield, which caters to a diverse population. The hospital has approximately 200 beds and provides various services, including emergency care, surgical services, and outpatient programs. The hospital recently reported an increase in medication errors, triggering the need for a quality improvement initiative.

Health Care Service: The health care service under consideration for this quality improvement project is the medication administration process. This process involves multiple steps, including prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, administering, and monitoring medications. Each step is crucial to ensuring patient safety and optimal health outcomes.

Problem: The specific problem identified is the rising rate of medication administration errors, which have been documented in recent hospital safety reports. According to the Institute of Medicine (2006), medication errors harm at least 1.5 million people annually in the United States. Our hospital's data indicates a 15% increase in medication errors over the last year, highlighting a pressing need to address this issue (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2019).

Barriers to Quality: Several barriers hinder the quality of medication administration. These barriers include understaffing, which leads to increased workloads for nursing staff, inadequate training on new electronic health record (EHR) systems, and poor communication among healthcare team members. A study by Cummings et al. (2018) emphasizes the negative impact of insufficient staffing levels on medication safety. Furthermore, inconsistent adherence to protocols can also lead to errors (Dunsmuir et al., 2020).

THE INTERVENTION

The proposed intervention is the implementation of a standardized medication administration protocol using a state-of-the-art electronic medication administration record (eMAR) system. This system provides real-time access to patients' medication information, alerts for potential drug interactions, and prompts for double-checking high-risk medications. Evidence suggests that implementing an eMAR system can significantly reduce medication errors (Reeves et al., 2020). The overall process will involve training staff on the eMAR system, continuous monitoring of medication administration practices, and regular audits to assess compliance and safety outcomes.

Aim (Objective): The primary objective of this proposed intervention is to reduce medication administration errors by 50% within one year of implementing the eMAR system.

STRATEGY FOR IMPLEMENTATION

The implementation strategy includes the following steps:

  1. Assessment of current medication administration practices and error rates.
  2. Selection and customization of the eMAR system to meet hospital needs.
  3. Staff training sessions on the use of the eMAR, focused on highlighting its benefits and reporting mechanisms.
  4. Implementation of the eMAR system across all nursing units.
  5. Establishment of a multi-disciplinary team to oversee the project and address any challenges that arise.
  6. Regular feedback sessions with staff to discuss challenges and successes during the implementation phase.
  7. Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the intervention through regular audits and data analysis.

Measures: To measure the implementation of the intervention, the following metrics will be used:

  • Pre- and post-implementation audit results of medication administration errors.
  • Staff satisfaction and feedback surveys on the usability of the eMAR system.
  • Analysis of turnaround times for medication administration.
  • Incidence reports related to medication errors over the implementation period.

Barriers to Change: Potential barriers to this change could include resistance from staff members who may be hesitant to adapt to new technology, concerns about time constraints during shifts, and the learning curve associated with the new eMAR system. Literature shows that successful implementation usually requires addressing staff concerns through education and ongoing support (Kirk et al., 2021).

Simple Rules: The primary rule that will be satisfied by this proposed intervention is the "Five Rights" of medication administration: the right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time. Adhering to these principles is crucial for reducing errors.

Cost Implications: The initial costs associated with the proposed intervention include purchasing the eMAR system and training staff. However, these costs can be outweighed by the potential savings from reduced medication errors, which can lead to decreased hospital readmission rates and improved patient outcomes (Roth et al., 2020).

References

  • Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2019). Estimating the costs of medication errors: a study of the hospital environment.
  • Cummings, G. G., et al. (2018). Policy implications of the association between nurse staffing and medication errors. Nursing Research.
  • Dunsmuir, D., et al. (2020). Hospital medication safety: A systematic review of current interventions. The Health Care Manager.
  • Institute of Medicine. (2006). Preventing medication errors: Quality chasm series. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
  • Kirk, S. R., et al. (2021). Barriers to successful implementation of e-health: A scoping review. International Journal of Medical Informatics.
  • Reeves, T., et al. (2020). Impact of e-prescribing and eMAR on medication errors: A systematic review. Journal of Patient Safety.
  • Roth, C., et al. (2020). Financial implications of medication errors: A systematic review. Journal of Health Economics.
  • Wheeler, C. R., et al. (2019). Systematic review of the eMAR impact on patient safety outcomes. Journal of Healthcare Quality.
  • Woods, D. M., et al. (2018). Enhancing patient safety through improved medication administration. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy.
  • Yin, H., et al. (2019). EHR and patient safety: A qualitative study of clinician perspectives. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.

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