health information

Clinical Quality Assessment/Improvement

Select a diagnostic or procedural topic relevant to patient care that would be suitable for a quality assessment and improvement project. Prepare a three- to four-page paper in which you:

• Define the purpose or focus of the assessment process. (Ask: What are we trying to accomplish?)
• Identify/develop at least four key indicators or parameters (performance measures) for the selected topic that provide data to support the purpose or focus of the assessment process. (Ask: What will tell us that a change is an improvement?) Use resources on this topic to help decide which indicators to use. Indicators may include, but are not limited to:
  • Admission criteria/suggested population
  • Continued-stay review criteria
  • History of illness
  • Lab values
  • Symptomatology/indications for the disease or procedure
  • Vital signs
  • Medications
  • Ongoing monitoring
  • Length of stay
  • Type of treatment
  • Complications/management of care
  • Comorbidities
  • Management (for example, of therapy or education)
  • Discharge planning

Your paper must:

• Be three- to four-pages in length (excluding the title and reference pages and charts and graphs) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
• Include references for a minimum of three scholarly sources published within the past three years, in addition to your textbook.
• Include a title page with the following:
• Title of paper
• Student’s name
• Course name and number
• Instructor’s name
• Date submitted
• Begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
• Address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
• Include a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
• Include a separate reference page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.