a Planned Change
Problem Identification for a Planned Change Practicum Project
Selecting a problem to address through a planned change project will require careful consideration of many variables. Here are a few suggestions to help you identify a problem that is relevant, feasible, and appropriate for a planned change practicum project:
- In collaboration with your faculty and/or mentor, brainstorm problems, concerns, or opportunities for improvement which you could address by leading a planned change project.
- Consider the overall scope of the project, realizing that it should fit into the timeframe of the practicum, be feasible, and be something for which you have the power to facilitate change.
- Remember that in order to secure support, most organizations will want validation that a project is worthwhile and necessary. Toward that end, be sure to identify the potential value added to the organization through the project:
- Improved health outcomes for patients
- Improved compliance with regulatory guidelines
- Improved fiscal outcomes (the financial bottom line)
- Improved health care delivery methods or practices (to enhance quality, safety, or best practices)
- Review current scholarly literature and professional publications regarding the problem to make sure you have a clear understanding of the facts, relevant health policy compliance, and evidence-based practice.
- Obtain feedback and insights from key leaders and experts within the organization, and within the field, as you identify a problem to address.
Make the Connection
Here are a few examples that may serve as a springboard for additional ideas. As always, remember that the scope of your project and available timeframe must be considered as you identify a problem or opportunity for improvement:
- Reduce 30-day readmission rates as mandated by the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (through the ACA)
- Improve compliance with National Patient Safety Goals (or other standards of care)
- Improve HCHAPS scores
- Reduce rates of infection
- Increase compliance with core measure indicators (or other standards of care)
- Reduce the patient safety risks
- Implement nurse peer-review program in your agency (just one example of performance improvement)
- Coordinate transition to patient bedside reporting (just one example to enhance communication)
- Initiate patient navigation of CHF patients to improve health outcomes and decrease readmissions
Think About It
As you think about next steps and identifying a problem of interest or need, ask yourself:
- Is there a problem or need that I can address?
- Is there an opportunity for quality improvement that I could lead?
- Are there specific best practice standards of care that need to be instituted?
- Are there specific regulatory guidelines for which compliance must be assured?
- Are there expenses that could be diminished or contained?
- Is there a health outcome that needs to be improved?
- Is there a healthcare delivery process that needs to be enhanced?
Often these items are prime targets for planned change initiatives that will benefit the patient and the organization. Contact your mentor to discuss ideas you have, and they may have additional ideas to share. Collaborating with your course instructor, mentor, and the organization to determine the focus of your project creates a win-win situation for you, the organization, and all involved stakeholders.
