...Healthcare Risk Control Risk and Quality Management Strategies 4 Executive Summary VOLUME 2 July 2009 Key Recommendations Assess current activities in risk management and quality improvement to evaluate their effectiveness in addressing overlap. Establish a structure to ensure that patient care activities are addressed in a coordinated manner involving risk management and quality improvement functions. Seek legal counsel to ensure that the structure for risk management and quality improvement activities maximizes legal protections granted by state and federal statutes while allowing for the flow of information. Align risk management and quality improvement plans with the strategic goals of the organization. Educate stakeholders on the role of risk management and quality improvement functions. Design systems to coordinate and streamline data collection, analysis, monitoring, and evaluation. Risk Management, Quality Improvement, and Patient Safety In the past, the risk management and quality improvement functions often operated separately in healthcare organizations and individuals responsible for each function had different lines of reporting—an organizational structure that further divided risk management and quality improvement. Today, risk management and quality improvement efforts in healthcare organizations are rallying behind patient safety and finding ways to work together more effectively and efficiently to ensure that their organizations deliver...
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...Today’s healthcare institutions and providers strive to be safe places for patients to receive care, but past data indicates it has not always been so. The Institute of Medicine determined in the late 1990’s that 44,000 to 98,000 patients die from medical mistakes each year (Wachter, 2008). This tremendous number of deaths places medical care mishaps between the fifth and eighth leading causes of deaths in the United States (Kizer, 2001). In 2002, The Joint Commission established National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) to help accredited organizations with patient safety in specific areas. An advisory group comprised of nurses, physicians, pharmacists, risk managers, clinical engineers, and others with appropriate experience advises The Joint Commission on how to address emerging patient safety issues. This group also periodically develops and updates the goals. The goals are grouped into broad categories and for 2011-2012, cover such categories as patient identification, health care-associated infections, improving communication, medication safety, reducing falls, and risk assessment. A discussion of selected elements underlying the current NPSG such as hand washing techniques, training, and lack of communication between healthcare personnel that can lead to medication errors, to falls, and even death, plus other related factors such as staffing shortages, problems with using outdated equipment, considerations in using the electronic medical records, and compliance with statutes...
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...“Transformational change is associated with organizational restructuring and represents a broad and complex radical shift, as the organization “reinvents itself.” (Johnson, 2009) In the healthcare industry, things are changing every day. New technology, medication, and the way we deal with patients changes on a daily basis. Change is necessary because there are people behind the scenes always finding new ways to better improve the quality of care we give to our patients as well as creating new technology to help assist with the way we treat our patients. Adding and taking away from departments are changing as well. With change we may want to be uninterested with it, supportive of it, to be a participate in it, or unreceptive about it. Whether the case may be, change has increased and will continue to happen whether we like it or not. Throughout this paper I will discuss two healthcare organizations that have experienced change. “Effective change has been characterized as unfreezing old behaviors, introducing new ones, and refreezing them.” (Al-Abir, 2007) Change can be random, rare, occasional, or continuous. Change that are predictable allow preparation time, whereas change that is unpredictable may be difficult for everyone to respond effectively too. Since in healthcare changes happen so fast, they are more than likely predicable. Even though change is recognized, the employees what to be able to understand why change is occurring and how it will affect them in...
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...Running head: IMPROVING HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND PATIENT SAFETY !1 ! ! ! ! Quality Improvement Techniques: Improving Healthcare and Patient Safety ! HMGT 320 ! February 9, 2014 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Quality Improvement Techniques in a Healthcare Setting !2 ! There is a great need to improve on the quality of healthcare we are providing to patients and it is a necessity to improve on patents safety also. Quality health care is defined 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 (Chassin, 2006). According to the Institute of Medicine, To Err Is Human, the majority of medical errors result from defective systems and procedures, not individuals. Processes that are ineffective and flexible, changing case mix of patients, health insurance, differences in provider education and experience, and numerous other factors contribute to the difficulty of health care. With this in mind, today’s health care industry functions at a lower level than it can and should, and it put forth the following six aims of health care: effective, safe, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable (Ferlie, 2005). The aims of effectiveness and safety are targeted through various processes that will measure whether providers of health care perform processes that have been demonstrated to achieve the desired aims and avoid those processes that are given toward maltreatment...
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...Running head: QUALITY AND SAFETY IN HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT 1 Quality and Safety in Health Care Management Murimi Stephen muriets@gmail.com JKUAT December 2014 QUALITY AND SAFETY IN HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT 1. Introduction 2 Although health care facilities are designed to ensure people are safe, they remain a dangerous place to be (Mitchell, Gardner, & McGregor, 2012). The sources of risks in the hospital include medical errors, falls, and health care associated infections (HAIs). The World Health Assembly (WHA) held on 18th May 2012 passed a resolution that addressed the issue of patient safety and quality in health care (Briš & Keclíková, 2012). WHA called for continued improvements in health care quality and patient safety (Briš & Keclíková, 2012). Therefore, there is a need to evaluate the existent health care systems in order to identify the causes of risks and come up with a plan that can improve health care standards. The plan should also aim at improving the safety techniques applied in other high risk industries, such as the mass transportation, chemical engineering, and nuclear power generation sectors (Shillito, Arfanis, & Smith, 2010). According to the accident causation model developed by Reason in 1990, accidents are caused by many factors that work in concert (Shillito, Arfanis, & Smith, 2010). Such accidents must be prevented by instituting the necessary checks and controls within the system (Shillito, Arfanis, & Smith, 2010). According to Shillito...
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...directors, senior management, nurses, physicians, other healthcare staff and ancillary staff. The senior management members are the role models for the hospital staff. Similarly, all leadership roles within the healthcare organization, formal and informal, must possess and exhibit the identical vision of zero patient harm (Chassin and Loeb, 2013). Additionally, the Risk Manager and Quality Department staff performs an important role in implementing, maintaining, assessing, and auditing quality and patient safety initiatives. In this case analysis, the key roles that influenced the outcome of a wrong-site surgery event include the emergency department triage staff, emergency department staff (physician, nurse, medical assistant or technician, and/or emergency medical technician), holding area nurse, anesthesiologist, surgeons, and operating room staff. There were plenty of opportunities to stop the sentinel event from occurring. The patient went from one caregiver to the next without a proper verification process. The senior management team with the support of the board of trustees and medical executive committee must hold all healthcare staff employees responsible for their part in risk reduction (Health Research & Educational Trust and Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare, 2014)....
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...Chelsea Millard Performance Measures An intensive care unit (ICU), also referred to as a critical care unit, is a healthcare operating unit that treats persons who have been inflicted with life-threatening injuries and illnesses. Patients in an intensive care unit are observed closely by specially trained health care providers. Problems that are treated range from accidents to severe breathing problems. Patients are normally exposed to monitors, intravenous (IV) tubs, feeding tubes, catheters, and breathing machines. These particular items are used to extend a patient’s life, but infection risk can become common also. In an intensive care unit, many patients recover and are moved to a regular hospital room to receive care. Death is a common outcome for patients in an intensive care unit. If a patient’s family and health care providers have to make end-of-life decisions, advance directives will help the individuals come to a final decision (“Critical Care“). In the article “The Competitiveness and Balanced Scorecard of Health Care Companies,” the balanced scorecard has become an idea that has become influential to the business aspect. A balanced scorecard measures employee knowledge, relationship with customers, cultures of innovation, and change generated success. Many businesses has improved their performance by improving processes and becoming more competitive in the market (Mavlutova, Babauska, 2013). In the article “Pabon Lasso and Data Envelopment Analysis: A Complementary...
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...facilities, patient safety is little to non-existent and if they are, there displayed on a need be and not obliged basis. They are displayed case by case rather than nursing home protocol. Even with changes in regulations, reporting systems, and documentation over the past couple of years, the nursing home industry still has its share of problems. Patient safety is meant to provide patients freedom from healthcare associated preventable harm, meaning when things go right, nothing bad happens. Nursing home organizations have been constantly trying to improve their reputation and the way people view them, but how? Don’t patients make up a nursing home? What about their safety? Shouldn’t we start there? How do we make improvements? Telehealth, a new approach to improving patient safety in nursing homes, will use telecommunication technologies to deliver health related services and information that support patient care, administrative activities, and health education (Dixon, Hook, McGowan, 2008). In this paper I will explore the major benefits of Telehealth and how its implications can improve patient safety in nursing home care. What is Telehealth and why is it important? Telehealth is the means and methods to improving access to care and reducing healthcare associated costs. It is also a system that can be used for education purposes, to keep physicians and medical staff in the know on healthcare changes and updates; in which combined together are the steps to improving patient safety...
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...Clinical Documentation System Excelsior College October 6, 2013 Clinical Documentation System Clinical information system (CIS) collects patient data in real time, stores healthcare data and information using secure access to the healthcare team. (McGonigle & Garver Mastrian, 2012, p. 554). The CIS that is used at Texas Health Dallas is CareConnect. CareConnect is used by all of the Texas Health Resources (THR) encompassing 25 hospitals, affiliated physician offices, and ancillary facilities. CareConnect allows physicians and management to access the system on their mobile devices and home computer for real time data. The shift for CIS is set for implementation throughout the United States by 2015. The clients served are those in the community that THR provides healthcare services to. The electronic health record is shared amongst the healthcare team and other affiliates. Data collection can be continuously updated, used for “statistical evaluation for purposes of quality improvement, outcome reporting, resource management, and public health surveillance.”(Yamada, 2008, p. 5). Data collection is generally initiated in the ER, and other times when the patient is at the physician's office or in the outpatient service line. To reference inpatient services, data collection begins in the ER. The patient's allergies, current medications, medical history, vital signs, immunizations, suicide screening and domestic violence screening are all obtained...
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...Running head: QUALITY AND SAFETY IN HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT 1 Quality and Safety in Health Care Management Murimi Stephen muriets@gmail.com JKUAT December 2014 QUALITY AND SAFETY IN HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT 1. Introduction 2 Although health care facilities are designed to ensure people are safe, they remain a dangerous place to be (Mitchell, Gardner, & McGregor, 2012). The sources of risks in the hospital include medical errors, falls, and health care associated infections (HAIs). The World Health Assembly (WHA) held on 18th May 2012 passed a resolution that addressed the issue of patient safety and quality in health care (Briš & Keclíková, 2012). WHA called for continued improvements in health care quality and patient safety (Briš & Keclíková, 2012). Therefore, there is a need to evaluate the existent health care systems in order to identify the causes of risks and come up with a plan that can improve health care standards. The plan should also aim at improving the safety techniques applied in other high risk industries, such as the mass transportation, chemical engineering, and nuclear power generation sectors (Shillito, Arfanis, & Smith, 2010). According to the accident causation model developed by Reason in 1990, accidents are caused by many factors that work in concert (Shillito, Arfanis, & Smith, 2010). Such accidents must be prevented by instituting the necessary checks and controls within the system (Shillito, Arfanis, & Smith, 2010). According to Shillito...
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...Healthcare Law and IT 1 Healthcare Law and IT 2 Healthcare as a whole has undergone an enormous transformation in recent years. The United States spends more on healthcare delivery, in terms of a percentage of GDP, than any other country in the world. Much of that cost is related to research and improvements in technology and information systems, as well as implementing them in an effort to reduce healthcare costs over time. That is where healthcare informatics comes into effect. According to Health Services Research Information Central, the definition of health informatics is, “the interdisciplinary study of the design, development, adoption, and application of IT-based innovations in healthcare services delivery, management, and planning.” Healthcare informatics is used to gather, analyze, and interpret data and information about patients and treatments. This information, along with business and management information, is used to interpret how things are and to develop a better, more efficient and more cost effective method of operation. The big question is, how does healthcare informatics and technology effect or impact the development and implementation of healthcare law? One of the most effective technologies that has been widely adopted already is electronic health records. EHR are systems that track and record patient information. It also makes them more accessible and easier to share and communicate between doctors, patients and insurance companies. Electronic...
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...Biometrics Technology in Healthcare sector Miss Chawisa Srisinthara Mr. Sangsan Poonyapotapirata Miss Chadaporn Champangoen Miss Tanwarat Trangpanich Mr. Ekapol Koosuwan NIDA Business School National Institute of Development Administration 118 Seri Thai Road, Bangkapi, Bangkok 10240, Thailand Email : Caocao_akatsuki@hotmail.com Tel. +66890710010 Biometrics Technology in Healthcare sector ABSTRACT Nowadays, Biometrics has become an important system in a process for all industries due to this technology can help the companies to manage the data such as gathering, integration, and summary. The companies can also apply this system in every working process steps. Besides, the data can be transferred from paper-based data into computer-based data which is convenience, safety, and accuracy. Moreover, The Biometrics system provides excellence operation and improves productivity. Especially, the biometrics system should be executed in healthcare industry because the patient information is classified and considerable for healthcare providers. 1. Introduction The “Biometrics” is the combination of “Bio” which means a creature and “Metrics” which means a characteristic that can be measured and estimated an amount. So, Biometrics is the biological technology that integrates between biological, medical, and computer technology. It use for measure physiological characteristics and behaviors that is the individual character of each person for identification...
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...Living the Nursing Code of Ethics The issue of patient safety is a guiding force within the healthcare organization. No matter what is being done for the patient, safety is a top priority. Healthcare organizations have many goals; to protect, provide and uphold the safety of the care given to the public is one of the primary goals of any healthcare institution. From an ethical viewpoint, the goals of a healthcare organization regarding patient safety have both practical and moral values. In the practical sense, when patient care is delivered in a safe manner the cost of care will decrease and society as a whole will have less of a healthcare burden. Providing safe care promotes and protects the rights and dignity of the patient which is...
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...Risk management in the health care in the past risk management and quality improvement job was separate in the health care organization. Even though, the job function may have been different the goal was the same. As up today they have close the gap to provide a better, and safety quality patient care. Rationale What is risk management any way not everyone has the same meaning. It can be define as such Risk management is a process for identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks of different kinds. Once the risks are identified, the risk manager will create a plan to minimize or eliminate the impact of negative events. A variety of strategies is available, depending on the type of risk and the type of business. Outline Risk Management and Patient Safety: The Synergy and the Tension Integrating Risk Management, Quality Management, and Patient Safety into the Organization Benchmarking in Risk Management Risk Management Strategic Planning for a Changing Health Care Delivery System Using Never Events to Reduce Risk and Advance Patient Safety Governance and Board Responsibility to Assure Safety in Health Care Organizations 1. Introduction What is the goal or the idea behind risk management one of their focus is to reduce the financial risk other areas that may seem not important is the regulation. One of the principal issues facing health care risk management is governmental regulation. Over the last few decades, there has been a growing public...
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...demand for accountability in health care delivery. The consequent tightening of governmental regulation has led to a greater allocation of an organization's resources to regulatory compliance. Some states, including New York, enacted stringent incident reporting requirements for hospitals, requiring additional staff to investigate and prepare such reports. Additionally, competition among hospitals has also fostered a greater concern over the community's perception of quality of care. Many hospitals have had to compete harder for patients as inpatient lengths of stay decrease and more procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. Risk management in the health care In the past risk management and quality improvement job was separate in the health care organization. Even though, the job function may have been different the goal was the same. Managing risks is the quality of services provided & the safety of patients, their careers & visitors. To manage risks to staff & subsequent risks to service quality. To manage risk of failing to meet national & local priority targets to manage risks to the efficiency of services. To manage risks to the reputation of the hospital Risk management aims to identify the major sources of risks to hospital, staff & visitors. Develop regular statistical & qualitative risk management reports Establish mechanisms to maintain & develop structures & processes for a cohesive approach to the management of clinical &...
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