By Arthur A. Burley 
The need to improve healthcare quality in the United States has been highlighted by rising healthcare costs, increased awareness about medical errors, and an increase in insured Americans. Many efforts are underway to improve patient outcomes, safety, quality of care, cost-cutting, efficiency, and coordination. Care redesign initiatives are also being evaluated to help guide future healthcare quality improvement. These tips can help you improve your healthcare.
1. Analyze your data to determine the outcomes
Peter Drucker, a noted management expert, once famously stated, “If it cannot be measured, it cannot be managed.” To make progress in improving health care, first identify the opportunities for improvement and then establish baseline outcomes. Next, examine trends and statistics from electronic medical records, outcomes studies and other data sources to identify areas that need improvement.
Rising costs have highlighted the need to improve quality in US healthcare.
2. Set goals
Based on the exercise results, you can set concrete and measurable goals for the areas most in need. These goals should be specific and quantifiable. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) identified six aims to improve pillars of high-quality healthcare. These can be used as a guide for your goal setting. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement states that healthcare should be:
Safety: Prevent injuries from patients receiving care intended to aid them.
Effective Match science to care; avoid overuse and underuse ineffective care.
Patient-Centred Respect the individual and honour their choice.
Quick: Less waiting time for patients and caregivers.
Efficiency: Reduce waste
Equitable There are no racial or ethnic differences in health status.
3. Build a balanced team
An effective team should include members with different backgrounds, skills, and experiences. The IHI states that a balanced team is a key step in improving your organization’s performance. A senior leader should be able to advise, oversee and advocate for the team. A clinical expert with the necessary background can make informed clinical decisions. Finally, a project manager must be able to manage the team’s day-to-day tasks and keep them on track.
4. Include Human Factors Inputs
The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society defines human factors as a collection of knowledge related to human capabilities, limitations, and other human characteristics. Human factors engineering refers to using information about human factors in designing tools and machines, systems, jobs and environments that are safe and comfortable for human use. These are closely related to quality improvement.
Some key human factors principles include avoiding reliance on memory, standardizing procedures, and using checklists and protocols. The National Center for Human Factors in Healthcare states that considering human factors in healthcare design has many benefits. These include improved care, communication between providers, a better understanding of patients’ medical conditions, lower risk of medical devices and IT errors, patient outcomes and cost-savings.
5. Make an executable plan
You must develop an achievable improvement plan to achieve your goals quickly and effectively. You will need to include specific measures and protocols to reach those measurements. Also, it would help if you had specific definitions of improvement derived from your data analysis and goal setting. You should have a system to keep track of your measurements and data. On its website, the Health Resources and Services Administration offers detailed instructions and steps for developing and implementing a quality improvement plan in healthcare. Our guide to project management for healthcare professionals is also available.
6. Become familiar with the PDSA Cycle
IHI recommends using the Model for Improvement to guide your improvement efforts. IHI says the Model for Improvement, which Associates In Process Improvement developed, is “a simple but powerful tool to accelerate improvement.” It uses the Plan-Do-Study-Act PDSA cycle to evaluate the quality and improve-related changes in clinical settings. It is possible to identify which improvements are most effective by planning, implementing a change, watching the results, and taking action on the lessons learned. This cycle is similar to the scientific method but can be adapted for action-oriented education.
7. Communicate your goals and track your progress
Once you have your plan in place, communicate with your team and your entire organization. It would help if you shared milestones, both big and small, as well as setbacks. Recognize those who have made an impact on your progress and congratulate them. Engaged staff will make your plan more likely to succeed.
8. Find out about other organizations and work together
Patient Care Link allows consumers and workers in the healthcare industry to see trends and hospital data. Look at data to see which organizations excel in the area you want to improve. Look online and in the literature for information and contact them to learn about their quality improvement programs. Many organizations will share this information for the benefit of patients.