NURS FPX 6222 Assessment 4 Outcome Measures, Issues, and Opportunities Presentation
Student name
Capella University
Healthcare Safety and Quality FPX6222
Professor Name
Submission Date
Slide 1
Introduction
Hello. I am _______. Today I will present the gap in unsafe levels of patient care due to increased healthcare-associated infection rates. This presentation focuses on the use of research-based techniques and collaborative healthcare teamwork as methods for decreasing rates of healthcare-associated infections. The expected outcomes of this presentation include the opportunity to improve outcomes for patients and healthcare providers, and improve the quality of patient care provided. We will examine the various healthcare models and how learning can be used to positively impact our healthcare efforts.
Slide 2
Importance of Key Quality and Safety Outcomes
Decreasing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) improves patient safety and lowers risk of patient mortality and morbidity and decreases length of patient stay. High compliance with infection prevention policies and procedures mitigates risk and provides safety of the clinical environment (Hodkinson et al., 2020). Level of engagement of patients increases and promotes the shared responsibility of the outcome of the patient’s health (Rajhathy et al., 2021). Economic benefit is achieved by the organizational system as a result of the timely improvement of increased efficiency and decreased HAIs (Hodkinson et al., 2020). The primary benefit of a positive outcome of HAI reduction is the improvement of safety culture, patient satisfaction, and trust (Braun et al., 2020).
Slide 3
The Problem
The main operational problem was the lack of a system to control the spread of infection. This can be attributed to an absence of standard operating procedures and new employee orientation due to an inadequate number of staff (Rajhathy et al., 2021). A lack of communication contributed to an unsafe control of infection and prevention practices (Kemp et al., 2023). The absence of a systematic approach to controlling infection rendered efforts ineffective.
Slides 4
High-Performing Organizations or Practice Settings
High-performing organizations exemplify the optimal integration of quality improvement and evidence-based practice. Staff should receive ongoing training related to infection control and safety standards (Rajhathy et al., 2021). Leadership fosters a culture of accountability, transparency, and responsiveness (Kemp et al., 2023). Real-time safety concerns and safety-related data are easily responsive. High-reliability organizations aim to minimize error through the application of standardized processes and the use of checklists (Liu & Dickter, 2020). Interdisciplinary collaboration encourages shared decision-making and improves patient outcomes. Collaboration within the organization is directed towards optimizing decision-making and the use of proactive safety systems designed to address and correct failures within the organization (Hodkinson et al., 2020). Organizational values and policy reflect a commitment to patient care and safety (Rajhathy et al., 2021). The focused use of technology improves the accuracy of documentation and communication and compliance with care standards.
Slides 5
Areas of Uncertainty
The effect of staff workload on adherence to protocols is an area that needs additional study. There is a lack of evidence concerning the effect of different leadership styles on the outcomes of infection control. There is a greater degree of uncertainty surrounding the effectiveness of digital health solutions for the prevention of infections (Gregory et al., 2021). The variability in reporting standards of different units/divisions limits the comparison of outcomes (Braun et al., 2020).
Slides 6
Outcome Measures Associated with the Problem
Effective infection control measures encourage staff engagement and decrease the rate of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Prompt and consistent infection control measures across hospital units and infection control teams result in improved patient safety. Continuous education of staff facilitates the retention of control measures based on the most current research (Liu and Dickter 2020). Accountability and a safety-centered culture are positively impacted by the presence of leadership (Kemp et al. 2023). Given that the primary goal of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) is the improvement of patient safety, the effectiveness of communication within the MDT is of utmost importance (Gregory et al. 2021). Audit and feedback systems create a culture of safety whereby staff are empowered to report safety issues and close the gaps. The safety of patients is improved due to the enhanced quality of the documentation within the electronic health record (Braun et al. 2020).
Slides 7
Assumptions and Reasons
Culture, as well as the presence of leadership, are believed to influence staff compliance. Training is believed to influence staff capability as well as staff behavior (Rajhathy et al. 2021). It is presumed that the presence of consistent communication reduces the potential for errors (Hodkinson et al. 2020). It is believed that the use of technology improves the quality of decisions made through rapid access to relevant data.
Slides 8
Quality and Safety Outcomes and Associated Measures
Reduction of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) following cesarean and orthopedic surgeries is the primary quality outcome. Infection rates are monitored with the Safety Thermometer and through surveillance (Power et al., 2022). An additional outcome is the enhancement of the adherence of staff to hand hygiene and sterile protocols (Rajhathy et al., 2021). Audit results are used to determine compliance with the infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols (Gregory et al., 2021). Readmission of patients due to HAIs is monitored to determine the effectiveness of the interventions. The frequency and participation of staff training are indicators of the quality of the interventions and the awareness of the staff (Liu & Dickter, 2020). The organization monitors the time of administration of perioperative prophylactic antibiotics through EHR documentation. Safety culture of the staff is determined through surveys and compliance assessments (Kemp et al., 2023). The IPC team reports, and performance measures indicate the effectiveness of collaborative team efforts.
Slides 9
Quality of Data
Staff audits and EHR records are the primary data sources and provide reliable and measurable metrics. The data is timely, evidence-based, and in congruence with the national safety standards and the IPC frameworks. Some datasets are lacking qualitative assessments of staff behavior and barriers, which limit the context of the data (Liu & Dickter, 2020). Surveys and feedback mechanisms can create a greater context to the data in the care teams.
Slides 10
Performance Issues or Opportunities
InConsistency in staff hand hygiene raises the chance of developing surgical site infections. Preconditions for safety are at risk with missed or postponed preoperative antibiotics, resulting in increased readmission (Braun et al., 2020). The number of staff training sessions directly correlates to understanding and the level of commitment to the infection prevention standards (Liu & Dickter, 2020). The absence of sterile techniques and compromised safety in a procedure are a result of poor communication in the surgical team.
Slides 11
Ineffective systems in the organization are the result of a failure to respond to the underreporting of safety incidents. Quality initiatives, as a teamwork responsibility, do not result in necessary changes, nor do they build responsibility and accountability, if members of the team do not participate (Kemp et al., 2023). Uncommitted leadership makes safety in the workplace an issue, which is combined with poor staff morale, for workspace areas which are of high risk (Hodkinson et al., 2020). The absence of an improvement focus in the performance data results in poor strategic activities and a lack of clarity in the outcomes. The absence of an EHR results in a lack of continuity in care and poor decision making.
Slides 12
Areas of uncertainty
There are barriers in the understanding of IPC practices in the different departments. More qualitative measures in analyzing the effectiveness of safety practices in leadership would strengthen the argument (Gregory et al., 2021). Data on the different experiences of patients in the postoperative period and infection management are lacking (Gregory et al., 2021). Assessing the effectiveness of cleaning the environment requires measurement and observation of protocols and a supportive audit.
Slide 13
The Change Model
To structure the patient care measurement and the process of sharing knowledge, Lewin’s change model describes the stages of change from unfreezing to refreezing. To create a change urgency, infection data will be presented to the staff (Harrison et al., 2021). Staff members will participate in the change process through the learning and training workshops and audits of the electronic health record (EHR) system. New protocols, infection control checklists, and audits will be introduced to the various departments during the change phase (Harrison et al., 2021). Dashboards will display compliance and infection data in real time. Shared learning forums will be conducted to clarify the practice of evidence-based care. Selected clinical champions will be responsible for reinforcing infection control practices and engagement of the team. New policies will be incorporated during refreezing, and performance reviews will ensure their sustainability (Harrison et al., 2021). Knowledge sharing will be promoted through updates to the intranet and team huddles.
Slide 14
Opportunities for Interprofessional Collaboration
Surgical, infection control, and nursing teams’ collaborative patient care can be unified through interprofessional collaboration. The joint audits of the electronic health record (EHR) system and training will strengthen collaborative partnerships and reduce role ambiguity. Care plans developed through collaboration will promote greater safety based on individual need (Harrison et al., 2021). Sustainable improvements within the system will be achieved through joint partnership within the nursing and infection control teams.
Slide 15
Conclusion
HAIs need the right approach and collaboration to tackle the challenges they present. Integrating Lewin’s model and conducting training and audits with staff will aid the reduction of infection rates. Patient care outcomes will improve with the ongoing assessment of care and sharing of knowledge. Having said that, I am able to cultivate an outstanding, safe, and accountable milieu in the provision of healthcare.
Related assessments for this class:
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References
Braun, B. I., Chitavi, S. O., Suzuki, H., & Soyemi, C. A. (2020). Culture of safety: Impact on improvement in infection prevention process and outcomes. Current Infectious Disease Reports, 22(12), 3–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-020-00741-y
Gregory, M. E., Hughes, A. M., Benishek, L. E., Sonesh, S. C., Lazzara, E. H., Woodard, L. D., & Salas, E. (2021). Toward the development of the perfect medical team. Journal of Patient Safety, 17(2), 3–7. https://doi.org/10.1097/pts.0000000000000598
Gregory, M. E., MacEwan, S. R., Sova, L. N., & Gaughan, A. A. (2022). A qualitative examination of interprofessional teamwork for infection prevention: Development of a model and solutions. Medical Care Research and Review, 80(1), 12-23. https://doi.org/10.1177/10775587221103973
Harrison, R., Fischer, S., Walpola, R. L., Chauhan, A., Babalola, T., & Mears, S. (2021). Where do models for change management, improvement, and implementation meet? A systematic review of the applications of change management models in healthcare. Journal of Healthcare Leadership, 13(2), 85–108. https://doi.org/10.2147/JHL.S289176
Hodkinson, A., Tyler, N., Ashcroft, D. M., Keers, R. N., Khan, K., Phipps, D., Abuzour, A., Bower, P., Avery, A., Campbell, S., & Panagioti, M. (2020). Preventable medication harm across health care settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Biomed Medicine, 18(1), 3–7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-020-01774-9
Kemp, E., Trivitt, J., & Davis, C. (2023). Evidence-based performance indicators of positive inpatient experiences. Journal of Healthcare Management, 68(2), 106–136. https://doi.org/10.1097/JHM-D-22-00147
Liu, J.-Y., & Dickter, J. K. (2020). Nosocomial infections: A history of hospital-acquired infections. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of North America, 30(4), 637–652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giec.2020.06.001
Power, M., Stewart, K., & Brotherton, A. (2022). What is the NHS safety thermometer? Clinical Risk, 18(5), 163–169. https://doi.org/10.1258/cr.2012.012038
Rajhathy, E. M., Chaplain, V., Hill, M. C., Woo, K. Y., & Parslow, N. E. (2021). Executive summary: Debridement: Canadian best practice recommendations for nurses developed by nurses specialized in wound, ostomy, and continence Canada (NSWOCC). Journal of Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing, 48(6), 516–522. https://doi.org/10.1097/won.0000000000000822
