Quality Improvement in Health Care

Running Head: QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN HEALTH CARE 1
Quality improvement in health care
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University affiliation

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN HEALTH CARE 2
Quality improvement in health care
Over the past decade, health foundations have shown their efforts in making
healthcare safer by funding thousands of people working in different settings from hospitals
to care homes. There have also been cases of specific causes of harm within the healthcare
system where front-line teams such as the government, organization, team and individuals
working in the organization can use quality improvement methods to address the problems.
Such efforts should be made to reduce the number of patients harmed by safety and quality
problems. However, despite the efforts made to improve the quality of healthcare in terms of
promoting more transparent accountability and effective commination between healthcare
providers and their patients, the gap between basic as well as operational action still remains
significant. Healthcare systems need more resources, better health financing schemes and
cost-effective interventions. This paper aim at discussing current strategies that have been put
in place to strengthen effective communication. Also, there is clearer accountability as well
as the challenges that can threaten the outcomes of such efforts.
Need for maintaining and improving the quality and safety of health services
A report produced by the institute of medication commission in regards to excellent
healthcare US Department of Health and Human Services (2014) outlined that millions of
patients across the world fail to receive adequate healthcare services. This happened every
year due to lack of more transparent accountability and effective communication between
nurses and patients (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). Additionally, the
US Department of Health and Human Services outlined that most healthcare systems around
the world fail to utilize their resources for better use. Other researchers at the RAND
Corporation developed that countless types of medical mistakes due to lack of clearer
accountability and lack of effective communication result in the subsequent prerequisite for

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN HEALTH CARE 3
extra healthcare services to treat patients. The research shows that even the exceedingly
fragmented delivery system often lack even basic clinical competences (US Department of
Health and Human Services, 2014). Similarly, the results in a poorly designed care processes
are characterized by unnecessary replication of services as well as long waiting times
accompanied by avoidable delays. As developed by Illingworth (2015) during his research
which provided substantial evidence documenting the overuse of many services—Further
research provided by the World Health Organization (2016) shows what is most disturbing
when it comes to the absence of real progress toward restructuring health care systems is to
address both quality and cost concerns. Also, towards applying advances in information
technology to improve administrative and clinical processes.
Current efforts have been put into strengthening effective communication.
According to a 2011 report to the congress, the federal government is making efforts
to promote effective communication within the healthcare system level by implementing
multiple programs (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). For example, in
2010, CMS made a public announcement that eight states in America will be participating in
the Multi-payer Advanced primary care practice demonstration. This activity was aimed at
evaluating how practical professional nurses and other healthcare providers working in a
more integrated fashion and more coordinated payment from Medicare, Medicaid, and
private health plans. Ultimately, this will ensure that approximately 1 million Medicare
beneficiaries across the world will be provided with advanced practice primary care.
Additionally, several researchers such as Shaw et al. (2014) and Mosadeghrad (2014)
mentioned healthcare systems are now providing support for the establishment of health
homes. They ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries, especially those with chronic diseases,
receive first-hand personalized health services. Previous research has provided evidence that
patients who receive seamless care from their healthcare providers are more comfortable