Module 7 Assignment

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2 Module 7 Assignment Evaluating the quality of medical care is a critical concern for patients, healthcare providers, and policymakers. Ensuring that patients receive high-quality care is essential for improving health outcomes, building trust in the healthcare system, and maximizing the value of healthcare resources. However, evaluating the quality of care can be complex, as it involves multiple dimensions beyond technical performance alone (Carini et al., 2020). In this essay, a range of issues related to the quality of medical care will be discussed, including the different dimensions of quality care, the importance of patient satisfaction and patient safety, and the role of population health outcomes in quality assessment. The ways in which healthcare systems can prioritize interventions and allocate resources in order to achieve the greatest benefit at the lowest risk for patients will also be explored. By considering these issues, a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities for improving the quality of medical care can be gained, leading to a healthcare system that delivers high-quality, patient-centered care for all. Question 1 The quality of medical care is an essential concern for patients, healthcare providers, and policymakers alike. Traditionally, the quality of care was largely determined by technical performance, with clinicians making decisions about what constituted "good care" based on their own expertise and judgment. However, in recent years, there has been a shift towards a more comprehensive and holistic approach to evaluating the quality of care, one that recognizes the importance of multiple dimensions beyond technical performance. One key dimension of quality care is patient satisfaction. This refers to the patient's experience of care and can encompass a wide range of factors, including the quality of communication with healthcare providers, the availability of necessary resources and support,

3 and the overall comfort and convenience of the care environment (Parmenter, 2021). Patient satisfaction is important because it reflects the patient's perspective on their care and can impact their adherence to treatment plans and their overall health outcomes. In addition, high levels of patient satisfaction can help to build trust and confidence in the healthcare system, which can lead to more positive patient experiences overall. In order to improve patient satisfaction, healthcare providers should make an effort to communicate clearly and effectively with patients, provide necessary resources and support, and create a comfortable and welcoming care environment (Carini et al., 2020). Another important dimension of quality care is patient safety. This refers to the prevention of errors and adverse events that can harm patients and can include issues such as medication errors, hospital-acquired infections, and preventable injuries. Ensuring patient safety is crucial because even minor errors or adverse events can have serious consequences for patients, and addressing patient safety issues can help to prevent harm and improve overall outcomes. To improve patient safety, healthcare providers and organizations should implement processes and systems to identify and mitigate potential risks, encourage a culture of safety and continuous improvement, and invest in quality improvement initiatives (Carini et al., 2020). A third dimension of quality care is population health outcomes. This refers to the overall health status of a population and can be used to identify areas for improvement in the healthcare system. According to Parmenter (2021), by improving population health outcomes, healthcare systems can help to reduce the burden of disease and improve the overall health of the population. To improve population health outcomes, healthcare systems should focus on addressing the social and behavioral determinants of health, such as access to education and employment, housing, and transportation.

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4 Question 2 Achieving the greatest benefit at the lowest risk is a fundamental principle of high-quality medical care. In order to achieve this goal, healthcare systems must prioritize interventions and allocate resources in a way that maximizes the benefits and minimizes the risks for patients. There are several ways that healthcare systems can approach this goal. One way that healthcare systems can prioritize interventions and allocate resources is by focusing on evidence-based practices and interventions. This means using research and data to identify the most effective and cost-effective treatments and interventions for a particular condition or population (Kaswan, Rathi, & Singh, 2019). By focusing on evidence-based practices, healthcare systems can ensure that resources are being used in the most effective way possible to achieve the greatest benefit at the lowest risk. Another way to prioritize interventions and allocate resources is by focusing on value- based care. This means delivering care in a way that maximizes the benefits and minimizes the risks for patients while also being cost-effective. This can involve using cost-effectiveness analysis to compare the benefits and costs of different interventions and prioritizing those that offer the greatest value (DeBoer et al., 2020). For example, if two interventions are equally effective at treating a particular condition, but one is much less expensive than the other, it may be more cost-effective to choose the less expensive option. By focusing on value-based care, healthcare systems can ensure that they are using resources in the most efficient and effective way possible. Additionally, healthcare systems can prioritize interventions and allocate resources by focusing on population health (Kaswan, Rathi, & Singh, 2019). This means addressing the underlying social and behavioral factors that contribute to health outcomes and targeting

5 resources to the populations that are most in need. For example, if a particular population has high rates of a particular chronic disease, healthcare providers and policymakers may work to identify and address the underlying social and behavioral factors that contribute to the high rates of disease. DeBoer et al. (2020) argue that by addressing the determinants of health and addressing health inequities, healthcare systems can work to improve the overall health of the population and achieve the goal of the greatest benefit at the lowest risk. Question 3 Implicit criteria and explicit criteria are two different types of criteria that are used to assess the quality of healthcare. Implicit criteria are criteria that are not explicitly stated or defined, but are instead inferred or understood by the person or group using them. Implicit criteria are often based on personal values, beliefs, and experiences and can vary widely from person to person. For example, one person may consider a healthcare provider's bedside manner to be an important implicit criterion when assessing the quality of care, while another person may place less emphasis on this aspect of care (Curtin, Gallagher, & O’Mahony, 2019). Explicit criteria, on the other hand, are criteria that are explicitly stated or defined and are used to assess the quality of healthcare in a more standardized and objective way (Kocaballi et al., 2019). Explicit criteria may include measures such as patient satisfaction, patient safety, and population health outcomes, and are often based on research and data. Both implicit and explicit criteria can be useful in quality assessment, depending on the context and the goals of the assessment. Implicit criteria can be useful because they reflect the personal values and experiences of the person or group using them, which can provide insight into the subjective experiences of patients and other stakeholders. For example, if a healthcare

6 facility has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, this may be an important implicit criterion for some patients when assessing the quality of care (Curtin, Gallagher, & O’Mahony, 2019). However, implicit criteria can also be subjective and may vary widely from person to person, which can make it difficult to use them to make objective comparisons or draw conclusions about the quality of care. Explicit criteria, on the other hand, are more objective and standardized, which makes them useful for making comparisons and drawing conclusions about the quality of care. For example, if a healthcare facility has high patient satisfaction scores, this may be an indication that the facility is providing high-quality care. However, explicit criteria may not always capture the full range of factors that are important to patients and other stakeholders, and may not always reflect the individual experiences and preferences of patients (Kocaballi et al., 2019). For example, a healthcare facility may have high patient satisfaction scores but may still be lacking in other areas, such as patient safety or population health outcomes. Conclusion In conclusion, the quality of medical care is a complex and multifaceted issue that encompasses a range of dimensions beyond technical performance alone. Patient satisfaction, patient safety, and population health outcomes are all important considerations when evaluating the quality of care, and addressing these dimensions can help to improve the overall experience of care for patients and the health of the population. By considering these factors, healthcare providers and organizations can work to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care that meets the needs of patients and communities. In addition, healthcare systems can prioritize interventions and allocate resources in a way that maximizes the benefits and minimizes the risks for patients, using evidence-based practices, value-based care, and a focus on population health to guide their

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7 decisions. By taking a comprehensive and holistic approach to the quality of medical care, we can work towards a healthcare system that delivers the greatest benefit at the lowest risk for patients. References Carini, E., Gabutti, I., Frisicale, E. M., Di Pilla, A., Pezzullo, A. M., de Waure, C., ... & Specchia, M. L. (2020). Assessing hospital performance indicators. What dimensions? Evidence from an umbrella review. BMC Health Services Research , 20 (1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913- 020-05879-y Parmenter, T. R. (2021). An analysis of the dimensions of quality of life for people with physical disabilities. In Quality of life for handicapped people (pp. 7-36). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003127338-2/analysis-dimensions- quality-life-people-physical-disabilities-trevor-parmenter Kaswan, M. S., Rathi, R., & Singh, M. (2019). Just in time elements extraction and prioritization for health care unit using decision making approach. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management . https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-08-2018-0208 DeBoer, R. J., Fadelu, T. A., Shulman, L. N., & Van Loon, K. (2020). Applying lessons learned from low-resource settings to prioritize cancer care in a pandemic. JAMA oncology , 6 (9), 1429- 1433. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.2976 Kocaballi, A. B., Berkovsky, S., Quiroz, J. C., Laranjo, L., Tong, H. L., Rezazadegan, D., ... & Coiera, E. (2019). The personalization of conversational agents in health care: systematic review. Journal of medical Internet research , 21 (11), e15360. https://doi.org/10.2196/15360

8 Curtin, D., Gallagher, P. F., & O’Mahony, D. (2019). Explicit criteria as clinical tools to minimize inappropriate medication use and its consequences. Therapeutic advances in drug safety , 10 , 2042098619829431. https://doi.org/10.1177/2042098619829431

Module 7 Assignment

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