We can work on Quality improvement efforts in health care.

Throughout history, major events have influenced quality improvement efforts in health care. For example, the Institute of Medicine’s report To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System revealed statistics about errors in patient safety that result in thousands of deaths annually. Health care administration leaders must be cognizant of the purpose and philosophy of quality improvement efforts as they lead the charge for improving health outcomes and patient safety.

For this Discussion, review the Provonost et al. (2015) resource for this week and reflect on the development of high-reliability health care systems. Think about how you, as a current or future health care administration leader, might address challenges when implementing high-reliability techniques for a health services organization.

Post, a description of Johns Hopkins’ efforts to create a high-reliability health care system. Then, explain how these techniques might benefit your health services organization or one with which you are familiar. Be specific and provide examples. Explain potential health care administration leader challenges when implementing high-reliability techniques within this organization.

find the cost of your paper
facebookShare on Facebook

TwitterTweet

FollowFollow us

Sample Answer

Johns Hopkins has been a leader in the development of high-reliability health care systems. In 2012, the hospital system launched the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, which is dedicated to improving patient safety and quality of care. The institute has developed a number of high-reliability techniques that have been implemented throughout Johns Hopkins Medicine.

One of the key principles of high-reliability organizations is the focus on prevention. Johns Hopkins has implemented a number of preventive measures to reduce the risk of patient harm, such as:

  • Preoccupation with failure: This means that the organization is constantly looking for ways to prevent errors from happening. This includes conducting root cause analysis of accidents and near misses, and implementing changes to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
  • Deference to expertise: This means that the organization values the expertise of its employees and encourages them to speak up if they see something that could be dangerous. This includes having a culture of safety where employees feel comfortable reporting errors without fear of retaliation.
  • Sensitivity to operations: This means that the organization is aware of the complex systems that are involved in delivering care, and it is constantly looking for ways to improve those systems. This includes using data to identify areas where there is room for improvement, and implementing changes to make the system safer and more efficient.

Full Answer Section

These techniques have helped Johns Hopkins to improve patient safety and quality of care. For example, the hospital system has seen a significant reduction in the number of patient deaths due to medical errors.

The high-reliability techniques that have been implemented at Johns Hopkins could also be beneficial to other health services organizations. By focusing on prevention, deference to expertise, and sensitivity to operations, these organizations can reduce the risk of patient harm and improve the quality of care.

However, there are some challenges that health care administration leaders may face when implementing high-reliability techniques. These challenges include:

  • Resistance to change: Some employees may be resistant to change, especially if they are not familiar with high-reliability techniques. It is important to communicate the benefits of these techniques to employees and to provide them with training on how to implement them.
  • Lack of resources: Implementing high-reliability techniques can require a significant investment of resources. Organizations need to make sure that they have the resources they need to implement these techniques successfully.
  • Leadership commitment: High-reliability techniques will not be successful unless there is strong leadership commitment. Leaders need to be willing to invest in these techniques and to create a culture of safety where employees feel comfortable reporting errors.

Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of high-reliability techniques make them worth pursuing. By implementing these techniques, health services organizations can reduce the risk of patient harm and improve the quality of care.

This question has been answered.

Get Answer

Is this question part of your Assignment?

We can help

Our aim is to help you get A+ grades on your Coursework.

We handle assignments in a multiplicity of subject areas including Admission Essays, General Essays, Case Studies, Coursework, Dissertations, Editing, Research Papers, and Research proposals

Header Button Label: Get Started NowGet Started Header Button Label: View writing samplesView writing samples