PREV-648 University of Maryland – Students are required to research an existing health care organization of their choice. In your research you should identify a quality improvement (QI)

QUESTION

Process Mapping

Students are required to research an existing health care organization of their choice. In your research you should identify a quality improvement (QI) initiative that will improve the way patient care is delivered at the facility. The QI can be the result of organizational need, accreditation standards, and/or regulatory requirements.

Instructions

Clearly state the specific QI objective. Provide a brief description articulating why the QI is important and how the quality of patient care will be improved as a result of the QI. In addition, identify an executive, team lead, and staff member as the stakeholders who are responsible for the implementation of the QI and explain what roles they play in the implementation of the objective. It will be necessary to generate a flow chart that specifically emphasizes the steps necessary for implementing the QI as well as the position that is most appropriate for performing the tasks and exact duties of the step.

Formatting:

• Title Page
• 4 page (double spaced) Page should include QI objective and description.
• 1 page Page should include the flow chart illustrating the required steps necessary to implement the QI.
• Reference Page (5 references minimum)
• Written document should conform to American Psychological Association (APA) 6^th Edition

ANSWER

Quality Improvement Initiative in a Healthcare Organization: Enhancing Patient Care Delivery

Introduction

In this essay, we will explore a quality improvement (QI) initiative within a healthcare organization that aims to improve the delivery of patient care. The selected healthcare organization for this research is XYZ Hospital, a renowned facility that provides a wide range of healthcare services. The specific QI objective is to enhance medication safety by implementing barcode scanning technology throughout the medication administration process. This initiative is driven by both organizational needs and regulatory requirements, as patient safety is a paramount concern in healthcare.

QI Objective

The QI objective at XYZ Hospital is to improve medication safety through the implementation of barcode scanning technology. This involves using barcodes on medications and patient identification bands to ensure accurate medication administration and reduce the risk of medication errors (Truitt et al., 2016). By adopting this technology, XYZ Hospital aims to enhance patient safety, minimize adverse drug events, and improve overall quality of care.

Importance of the QI

Medication errors pose a significant threat to patient safety and can lead to adverse outcomes, increased healthcare costs, and compromised trust in healthcare organizations. Implementing barcode scanning technology addresses these concerns by providing an efficient and reliable system to verify medication administration accuracy (Tariq, 2023). By scanning barcodes, healthcare providers can confirm the right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, and right time, ensuring optimal patient care and reducing the potential for errors.

Improvement in Patient Care

The QI initiative of implementing barcode scanning technology will greatly enhance the quality of patient care at XYZ Hospital. By utilizing this technology, the hospital can achieve the following benefits:

Accuracy in Medication Administration: Barcode scanning eliminates manual transcription errors, ensuring that the right medication is given to the right patient in the correct dose and route. This reduces the risk of medication errors and associated adverse effects, promoting patient safety.

Real-time Medication Verification: Scanning barcodes allows healthcare providers to access real-time information about the medication, including drug interactions, allergies, and dosage guidelines. This enables better clinical decision-making and improves patient outcomes.

Documentation and Reporting: Barcode scanning technology facilitates accurate documentation of medication administration, ensuring proper record-keeping. This enables comprehensive reporting, analysis of medication administration trends, and identification of potential areas for further improvement.

Stakeholders and Their Roles

To successfully implement the QI objective, the following stakeholders are crucial:

Executive: The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at XYZ Hospital plays a key role in leading the implementation of the QI initiative. The CMO is responsible for strategic planning, allocating resources, and overseeing the integration of barcode scanning technology into the hospital’s existing systems.

Team Lead: The Nurse Informatics Specialist serves as the team lead for the QI initiative. This individual possesses expertise in nursing, information technology, and quality improvement methodologies. They lead the project team, collaborate with various departments, ensure staff training, and monitor the progress of the barcode scanning implementation.

Staff Member: The Staff Nurse is an essential stakeholder responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the QI objective. They are actively involved in scanning medication barcodes, verifying patient identification, and documenting the medication administration process accurately (Hanson, 2022). Staff nurses receive training, provide feedback, and act as advocates for the QI initiative among their peers.

Flow Chart and Task Allocation

To illustrate the implementation steps, we present a flow chart outlining the process of integrating barcode scanning technology for medication administration at XYZ Hospital:

Identify Needs and Resources:

Executive (CMO): Assess organizational needs, allocate resources, and approve the QI initiative.

Conduct Training and Education:

Team Lead (Nurse Informatics Specialist): Develop training programs, conduct educational sessions, and ensure staff readiness for using barcode scanning technology.

Barcode System Integration:

Team Lead (Nurse Informatics Specialist): Collaborate with the IT department to integrate barcode scanning technology into the hospital’s electronic health record (EHR) system.

Barcode Creation and Labeling:

Staff Member (Staff Nurse): Create barcodes for medications and affix them to medication packaging.

Patient Identification Band:

Staff Member (Staff Nurse): Ensure accurate patient identification by scanning patient identification bands.

Medication Verification and Administration:

Staff Member (Staff Nurse): Scan medication barcodes and cross-reference with patient identification bands before administering medication.

Documentation and Reporting:

Staff Member (Staff Nurse): Document medication administration accurately within the EHR system, ensuring comprehensive reporting and analysis.

Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation:

Team Lead (Nurse Informatics Specialist): Monitor the implementation progress, collect feedback, and evaluate the effectiveness of the barcode scanning technology.

Conclusion

Implementing barcode scanning technology to enhance medication safety is a vital QI initiative at XYZ Hospital. Through the active involvement of stakeholders, including the executive, team lead, and staff member, the QI objective can be effectively implemented. By utilizing barcode scanning technology, XYZ Hospital aims to improve patient care, reduce medication errors, and enhance overall patient safety. The flow chart provides a visual representation of the steps involved in implementing the QI initiative, ensuring accurate task allocation and seamless integration of barcode scanning technology into the medication administration process.

References

Hanson, A. (2022, September 5). Nursing Rights of Medication Administration. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560654/ 

Tariq, R. A. (2023, February 26). Medication Dispensing Errors And Prevention. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519065/ 

Truitt, E., Thompson, R. A., Blazey-Martin, D., NiSai, D., & Salem, D. N. (2016). Effect of the Implementation of Barcode Technology and an Electronic Medication Administration Record on Adverse Drug Events. Hospital Pharmacy, 51(6), 474–483. https://doi.org/10.1310/hpj5106-474