Applying Process Improvement Models

Practicum: Applying Process Improvement Models

Choose a process improvement model from Chapter 5 in the Spath textbook, and apply this model to your practice problem.

By Day 4

Post a Discussion entry describing the model that you selected and how each step of the model will be used to develop the plan for the Practicum Project. Continue to collaborate with the selected individuals in your practice environment as needed in the development of the Practicum Project, and share this information with your group.

By Day 7

Read and respond to two or more of your colleagues’ postings from the Discussion question. Provide feedback on the selected model, and offer other models if appropriate for their project. As a member of a community of practice, help each other refine and clarify the patient-centered Practicum Project.

The process improvement model chosen is the plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycle. The PDSA cycle is the most widely recognized process improvement model (Spath, 2013). The design of the model is to ensure continuous improvement, as the steps cycle and repeat (Spath, 2013). I feel that this model is best for fall prevention in long-term care because there are always constant changes and using a model like the PDSA will help to incorporate and address the changes as they come.

Plan- Patient falls will be reduced as a result of implementing a fall prevention plan in the facility. A fall prevention committee will be formed consisting of stakeholders who represent the broad range of organizational members. Providing the weekly fall information discussed in the risk meetings to all facility employees and families to keep them informed. Ensuring that fall risk assessments scores are provided to frontline staff and that they are educated on patient-centered fall prevention measures. Lastly, implementing interdisciplinary hourly rounding throughout the facility.

Do- Form the fall prevention committee that will consist of staff nurses, certified nursing assistants (CNA), physical therapists, occupational therapist, physicians, nurse practitioners, dieticians, environmental services managers, pharmacist, and risk managers. Weekly risk meetings will continue in the facility, but members of the fall prevention committee will also be present.

A fall report will be provided to all facility staff weekly, families of affected residents will be provided the outcome that week as well, and monthly reports provided to department heads to disperse to their staff. Fall risk scores will be made available to frontline nursing staff by placing it in the resident’s medication administration record and the care tracker for certified nursing assistants.

Lastly, create and enforce hourly rounding protocols that are facility-wide and conducted by all staff to help address resident’s needs to help prevent falls.

Study- Analyze the fall rates from the facility incident reports to determine if the changes made have been effective in reducing falls. Collect information from the fall prevention committee, facility staff, including frontline nurses and CNAs, families, and residents to determine if the changes have been effective in preventing falls. Also get feedback on the hourly rounding to help determine what was found as resident’s needs that could have led to falls. Summarize the lessons learned after implementing the fall prevention plan in the facility.

Act- Evaluate if the fall prevention plan in the facility was successful, if not make changes where appropriate. If the changes were successful, fine-tune them to make the changes even better.

Reference

Spath, P. (2013). Continuous improvement. In Introduction to healthcare quality

management (2nd ed.). (pp. 117-119). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.

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