Overview
Introduction
Measurement: Process and Outcome Indicators
Methods of Quality Improvement
Things Quality Improvement is NOT
Summative Experience
Summary

QI in a Healthcare Setting

One means of getting around the problems with self-report is to use more objective data.
  • You start with a small problem. Perhaps you want to see how well your group is doing with patients with a chronic disease, such as diabetes, asthma, or hypertension. From that point you can narrow your focus even further.
  • Decide what aspect of care you think might be a problem.
    • How about assessment of how well the condition is being controlled?
    • Within an office visit what measurements would be useful?

Examples:

Asthma

Objectives

Diabetes

Objectives

Hypertension

Objectives

Each of these measures is valid for a specific purpose. Understanding that value and its limitations determine if that is the correct measure to use for what you want to evaluate. These challenges are at the heart of healthcare QI.

Next we talk about these measures and other ways of gathering data.

Check your understanding:
Which of the following are not considered a stakeholder in terms of quality in Healthcare?

a. Parents of a child being treated for asthma.

b. Physician who is treating the child.

c. Employer providing insurance benefit to the parent, its employee.

d. Insurance company covering the child.

e. None of the above, as each has an interest in the child’s care.

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Patient safety module series used with permission from Duke University
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