Measuring Quality
Introduction
The definition of measuring the quality care outcomes encompasses the physical, emotional, and social functions of the patient after his admission or his visit in a health care institution or meeting the health care providers. The quality care assessment and outcomes are focused in delivering the effectiveness of different interventions and in some other ways, provide or influence the health care system.
Approaches in Measuring Patient Outcomes
1.0 Processes and Service
The assessment on the quality of service or process measures the service action and can have several advantages over the outcome measures. This approach is usually cheaper and do not require a lengthy period of time to manifest. The service and process in terms of quality care have an effort on disseminating and implementing the standards ( 2005). The standardized process helps the health care providers and welcomes the possibility to update the process and investigate the variations of the certain problems on the patients.
2.0 Patient-Reported Assessment/Consumers’ Experience
This first identified indicator is used for clinical research and evaluation of medical practice. The major goal of the patient-reported outcome assessment is to develop measures that can be use for many different conditions. This approach allows the development of a new scientific and validated method in measuring the outcomes. Also, it allows the health care professionals to be more accurate in assessing the conditions of the patients and to develop strategies in improving their lives ( 2006).
Areas for Improvement
There are four areas for improvement identified in the past studies that will contribute in achieving the quality care in different health care settings ( 1997; 2001)). First is assuring the technical quality which is opposed to any interpersonal outcomes. Literally, the technical aspect is important in improving the health but with the appropriate materials or machineries, innovated or updated technologies are expected to promote the long-term quality of care. Each technology such as X-Ray machines, ultrasound equipment, etc., is unique and cannot be used without the assistance of an expert. Second is in the area of the health care provider’s skill. Most of the health care professional uses the elements of knowledge, expertise, and experience in performing the specific process to deliver the quality of care. The continuous training can contribute to improve the quality care outcomes.
Third is the development of the criteria. In health care settings, the assessment in each patient already exists. But with the efforts to improve, the quality assessment can be in a more efficient way such as making it a routine in performing the monitoring systems most especially in the people who had chronic conditions. This are can be done in combining the technology and human skills. Fourth is setting a strong foundation of guidelines. In measuring the outcome for patient, it is said that the process (and services) can positively contribute in establishing the quality care. Therefore, with the appropriate methods and proper facilitating, all of the efforts in delivering the quality care can be possible for there is an alignment among the areas.
Roles of Health Care Workers in Quality Care
The physicians, nurses, doctors, medical professionals, and other health care providers are considered the health care workers. The essence of care lies in their oath-taking after passing the board examinations for the medicine and health care aspects. The health care providers are in control over the costs, processes or methods, and services in their aim to provide the quality care. As a provider of quality care, the decision making is very important more likely on those patients that needs the surgery. The decision that created by the involved parties are based on their consultation on the health care workers assessment, judgment and autonomy ( 1997). The health care workers definition of outcomes is according to the biological status of the patients such as blood pressure, lung or heart functions, and/or mortality because these were the outcomes in which the health care providers have the greatest control.
Conclusion
The health care providers play a main role in delivering the quality of health. For all the cost, technical aspect, and skills, the health care providers are in control in utilizing all their knowledge and skills to contribute in the quality of care. There is available approach in measuring the quality of health and they are based on the processes and services, and consumer or patient’s experiences. Although there are certain areas that needs for improvement, still the influence and philosophical views of care they leave in their patients can be another basis in their effectiveness as the main provider of care.
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment