Question

• Explore your clinical site and relate one quality improvement (QI) study currently being analyzed. What is benchmarked in the study? What role does the nurse play in the QI study?

Answer 1

Quality improvement is a process of systematic, data-guided activities designed to bring about immediate, positive changes in the delivery of healthcare in particular settings.

After carefully exploring my clinical site I am working at, I found out that patient follow-ups were being done for patients who had been discharged as one way of improving the quality of medical care at the clinic by the quality management department.

The follow-ups aim at ensuring that patients follow their medication, stick to all instructions given, and also to enhance their post-hospitalization care while at home.

The objective of this quality improvement plan was to reduce the rate of readmitting patients who fail to recover after being discharged as a result of not complying with medication and following instructions given by doctors.

Application of evidence-based practices established by the Joint Commission and the Center for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) to improve the safety of patients and the outcomes of hospital care.

Exploring our current clinical environment: Medication errors play a significant role in patient’s safety. They increase the morbidity and mortality of patients and increase the healthcare cost of both patients and health systems.

# The benchmark in the study - 0% medication errors and improved patient study.

The key feature of benchmarking is its integration within a comprehensive and participatory policy of continuous quality improvement (CQI). Conditions for successful benchmarking focus essentially on careful preparation of the process, monitoring of the relevant indicators, staff involvement and inter-organizational visits.

# The role of professional nurses in quality improvement (QI):-

The professional nurse plays a vital role in the quality improvement of health care services.

- To carry out interdisciplinary processes to meet organizational QI goals and to measure, improve, and control nursing-sensitive indicators (NSI) affecting patient outcomes specific to nursing practices.

- She must passess enough knowledge and continually learn about various types of drugs, their effects, their interactions etc on patient.

- To support, implementation and evaluation of Health applications to improve patient safety and participate in the design and operation of facilities, equipment and work processes for safety.