Question

2. The registered nurse working in the cardiac care clinic is tasked with implementing quality improvement measures. To educate the clinic staff, the nurse plans an in-service program to introduce concepts of quality improvement and evidence-based practice. Additionally, the role of the case manager will be included in the presentation. The nurse plans on using care of the patient with Congestive Heart Failure as a template, and prepares sample clinical pathways, care maps, and multidisciplinary action plans. (Learning Objective 3)

Describe how clinical pathways are used to coordinate care of caseloads of patients.

What is the role of the case manager in evaluating a patient’s progress?

What are examples of evidence-based practice tools used for planning patient care?

Answer 1

1 Care pathways are also knowns critical patways and is often considered as one of the best tools to manage quality care. They are intervention plans developed by health care team and is divided into well-defined stages and takes into consideration the pathologies which is normally encountered by the patients who are included in the case management program.The implementation of clinial pathways reduces the variability in clinical practice and improve outcomes.The improvement of Clinical pathways is based on the following areas Quality,safety and efficiency.Clinical pathways coordinate care of caseloads of patients by preparing documents which are multidiscipliniary.Constant revision of the process by the concerned staff.Initiate meetingsto facilitate exchange of opinions about patient care.Analyse any deviations and prepare common record documents for all the staff.The clinical care pathways is under the surveillance of Quality Improvement programs.

2.We have two types of nurses in the health care delivery system,nurses who stands up in front line the pivotal nurse and the case managers wwho play behind the scenes.Case Managers act as a catalyst for the health care team and provides valuable source of information .It is the duty of the case manager to asess the patients physical condition,support network and plans for required procedures.The Case managers main role is to check for the patient satisfaction and always looks in anticipation for clinical outcomesbefore admission to after discharge .Monitors that the patient recieves quality care and services as in the clinical pathway within the required time frame.

3Best examples of evidence based practice tools are case reports,scientific principles and evidence from scientific reports.