Brandy Brooks C815, Task #2
Revision #1
A. Quality Improvement Project
In order to initiate a quality improvement project Lauren should first determine what should be the focus of the project. Once Lauren has determined what areas need to be addressed, she should come up with an action plan ...
A. Quality Improvement Project
In order to initiate a quality improvement project Lauren should first determine what should be the
focus of the project. Once Lauren has determined what areas need to be addressed, she should come
up with an action plan and establish quality improvement goals. Once the action plan has been
established and the goals have been set, Lauren should then begin a report that provides a detailed
description of the action and how she recommends the facility reach its goals. Once this
documentation has been established, Lauren should then come up with a team that will help assist in
meeting the goals of the project. These team members should include the CEO, nursing management,
rehab management, nurses’ aides, and transportation. Lauren will oversee the quality improvement
project and gather the information necessary to maintain a successful outcome.
A1. Areas of Focus
The three quality improvement areas that Lauren should focus on are:
1. Are patients arriving on time for their therapy sessions?
2. The scheduling system of the rehabilitation department.
3. Is there enough nursing staff to assist in the daily needs of the patient?
The first area of focus relates to the concern of the patients arriving on time to their therapy sessions.
Lauren needs to communicate with staff and ask them what the reasoning is as to why these patients
aren’t making it on time to their sessions. Based on the information gathered, Lauren can then
determine what the best improvement plan would be to guarantee that the nursing staff is getting the
patients to their therapy sessions on time.
The second area of focus relates to the scheduling system of the rehabilitation department. Is it
necessary for the patients to have two sessions a day, morning and afternoon? Or can the sessions be
adjusted to where the patient has one session a day? Can the sessions be extended by fifteen minutes
per patient? Having two sessions a day seems to put a burden not only on the patient but the nursing
staff. Are there better ways that the therapy sessions can be done?
The third area of focus relates to staffing. Does the facility offer enough help to each unit? How
many patients is one aide responsible for? Can staffing be increased? Based on the scenario, the
nursing department complains that they are short staffed and cannot get the patients to therapy on
time.
A1a. Types of Data Gathered
The first type of data that Lauren should consider using is called qualitative data. Qualitative data is a
tool that Lauren can use to help with defining a goal for the organization by understanding how
processes work and by identifying any opportunities for improvement, based on her findings she
create a solution to reach the goal being set. (Spath, Patrice., 2013). For Lauren to gather this
information she will need to create meetings for leadership and staff to offer discussion on daily
routines and how they work. She will be able to gain ideas, and set goals based on the information
, gathered in meetings. By allowing staff to voice their opinions, concerns, and ideas Lauren
can pinpoint the main problems that improvement is needed to provide a better routine for
nursing, therapy, and patients.
Another form of data that Lauren should consider using is quantitative data. Quantitative data is a
tool used to measure and monitor an organizations performance and collect and display data. (Spath,
Patrice., 2013). For Lauren to gather this data she can research other organizations within the area
that provide rehabilitation services. Lauren should contact these organizations directly. By contacting
them directly Lauren will be able to ask the questions necessary that will pertain to her organization.
Good questions for Lauren to ask other facilities are listed below:
1. What is the daily schedule of patients that attend rehabilitation appointments?
2. What is the patient to nurse aide ratio?
3. How does your staff ensure that patients are making it to rehabilitation appointments on
time? Any other questions that Lauren deems important to ask should also be considered.
A1b. Data Gathering
For Lauren to gather qualitative data she should talk with staff that work closest with the patient.
Easy ways to gain this information are by having meetings with staff so they can discuss areas of
concern, provide insight to reasons why patients aren’t making it to therapy on time, provide
suggestions, and set goals. Lauren can also provide a suggestion box that employees can relay their
ideas or opinions on the quality of care, they can also email or speak to her directly. Based on all the
information gained from the staff, Lauren can determine what areas need improvement.
For Lauren to gather quantitative data she can contact rehabilitation organizations directly and
discuss what they have implemented at their facilities that has been beneficial for their patients and
the rehabilitation department. Lauren should also address any questions that she has prepared prior to
the call, such as the questions I have listed above. Once Lauren has gathered the information from
these organizations she should then focus on her facility. Lauren needs to request daily schedules
from the rehabilitation department that will provide the time a patient is scheduled to be in the
department. She can also evaluate each patient chart and determine what their daily schedule is.
When does the patient eat? What time do they rest? What time do they rise in the morning? What
time do they lay down at night? Do the facilities daily rehabilitation appointments fit the patients
schedule and is the daily schedule is effective? Gathering this information will help Lauren determine
if the current rehabilitation schedule is adequate for each patient or if it is necessary to adjust the
schedules.
A2. Quality Improvement Model
Quality improvement models all consist of four steps:
1. Defining a goal
2. Analysis of the current problem
3. Establish and implement ways for improvement
4. Measuring success
Once this is met Lauren should then implement the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle. (Spath, Patrice., 2013).
A2a. Quality Improvement Model Steps
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