Question

In this assignment, you will assess the measurement of performance factors relative to the admissions process of a skilled nursing facility.

Four performance factors can be measured for any activity in healthcare: structure, process, outcome, and patient experience. After reading the following scenario, identify one measure from each of the aforementioned categories that could be useful when evaluating the following nursing home admission process.

Upon discharge from the hospital after spending a few nights post-knee surgery, the patient arrives at the local skilled nursing facility (SNF) where the patient will receive physical therapy (PT) rehabilitation. The patient (or legal representative) reports to the Admissions Department and completes the required paperwork. Likewise, all the necessary documentation is provided, including the patient’s history, identification card, and insurance card. Payment for the patient’s health insurance co-pay is collected at the time of admission. In some instances, patients (or their representatives) are able to register on the organization’s website before the patient is admitted. This helps to expedite the admissions process. The patient is given an identification bracelet that includes the patient’s name, medical record number, and attending physician. Before the patient can be seen by the physical therapist, the patient is asked to sign a consent form. Upon completion of all necessary paperwork, the patient is escorted to their room where the therapist will meet them shortly.

Suppose the administrator of the SNF wants to gather data to report actual performance measures that you have selected. What sources of data can the administrator use to gather information for the measures? Discuss why these data sources are important for gathering reliable data.

Answer 1

The sources of data that the administrator can use to gather information for the performance measures are the Admissions Department paperwork, patient registration on the organization's website before the actual admission of the patient, patient history documentation, identification bracelet of the patient, nursing notes, patient's progress notes, etc. These data sources are important for gathering reliable data due to various reasons. Admissions Department paperwork and patient registration on the organization's website before the actual admission of the patient shows the preadmission details. Patient history documentation also gives the medical history of the patient. This paperwork and documentation are necessary to know the condition of the patient at the time of arrival. From this point onwards the patient's daily progress can be assessed based on the progress notes. The identification bracelet of the patient shows the patient’s name, medical record number, and attending physician. Nursing notes include all valuable information like patient condition changes, nursing assessments, care provided, etc. These data sources are really important for gathering reliable data as these are true and error-free. The structure, process, outcome, and patient experience can thus be measured using these yardsticks.