TIP OF THE WEEK
Four steps to identifying a quality improvement project
- Look in the mirror. Complete the facility assessment checklists (available for pain, pressure ulcers, depression, and physical restraints). The checklists cover the following areas: screening, assessment/reassessment, staff training, care plan development, monitoring/tracking, policies and procedures, and staff education and training.
- Narrow your focus. Review your responses on the facility assessment checklists and select one question to examine further (i.e., Does our facility routinely ask all residents upon admission/readmission if they have pain?).
- Dig deeper. Reference a data source to investigate further. Medical charts are usually an easy place to start. Randomly select at least five records and see what is being documented (i.e., Are there notes about pain in the chart from when the resident was admitted?) and keep a simple tally sheet like the example chart below:
Record
Yes
No
1
2
3
4
5
Or, ask staff to just keep tally for a day (i.e., place a tick mark on a sheet each time they answer a call light).
Use the data you collect to separate what you think is happening from what is really happening. Also, use these data to avoid putting solutions in place that will not solve the problem. These data establish a baseline so you can measure future improvement. A word of caution: be careful not to spend too much time digging deeper. More time should be spent on the improvement than on investigation. Check a few charts, analyze, and move on.
- Brainstorm. Sit down with your team and review the information you’ve collected so far. Use it to brainstorm solutions. Remember, no idea is a bad idea when you’re brainstorming (you can eliminate irrelevant ideas afterwards) and the brainstorming session should last no longer than 15-20 minutes.
Congratulations! You now have a QI project. Test your ideas on a small scale, like with one resident or one unit for one week. Then decide whether you want to adopt (expand it to other areas), adapt (make a few tweaks to the idea and try it again), or abandon (drop it because it’s just not working) your idea.
RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT
Facility Assessment Checklists -- Identify areas for improvement within the existing processes of care in a facility. Checklists are the first step in a quality improvement project. The checklists cover the following areas: screening, assessment/reassessment, staff training, care plan development, monitoring/tracking, policies and procedures, and staff education and training.
IN THE NEWS
DOCTORS STILL DENY OLDER PATIENTS TESTS AND TREATMENT
February 12, 2007 -- Newswire -- Doctors are still denying older people the sorts of tests and treatment they would offer to younger patients, reveals a survey in Quality and Safety in Health Care. Half of those surveyed were influenced by a patient’s age in their decisions on whether to send a patient for tests or prescribe treatment. Patients over 65 were managed differently from those who were younger. Read more >>.
NCQA SEEKS TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON HEALTH PLAN QUALITY
February 20, 2007 -- Kaiser Network -- The National Committee for Quality Assurance announced proposals to increase the amount of information available to consumers on the quality of health plans, CQ HealthBeat reports. NCQA proposed to require PPOs to report the same quality of care information that HMOs currently must report to receive accreditation from the group.
Read more >>
OHIO KEPRO EVENTS
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT: TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Objectives:
- Identify the basic principles of quality improvement
- Describe the role of data collection in the quality improvement process
- Discuss ways to improve team performance
- Identify strategies to improve the effectiveness of team leaders and team members
WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Nursing home administrators, directors of nursing, clinical managers, direct care professionals, QI team members
Continuing education credits for nurses and NAB credits for administrators are pending. Please contact Donna Maynard at 1.800.385.5080 to learn the program’s status.
February 8, 2007 through March 8, 2007 from 8:30 a.m. to noon in various locations throughout Ohio.
If you are interested, please download the flyer and register online.
View all Ohio KePRO educational opportunities for nursing homes >>
OTHER INDUSTRY EVENTS
Roadmap for Change: A Practical Guide for Caring in a New Way
March 20, 2007, Villa Milano Banquet and Conference Center, Columbus Ohio
Registration fee: $50 before March 1, 2007
Navigating the MDS Through the Ohio Medicaid Reimbursement System
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
June 11, 2007 or August 23, 2007
Call Cheryl Robertson at (614) 466-9088 for more information.
Upcoming CMS Webcasts
How to Enhance the Quality of Dining Assistance in Nursing Homes
March 16, 2007, 1:00 p.m.
Advancing Excellence in Nursing Homes
April 23, 2007, 1:00 p.m.
From Institutional to Individual Care Part III: Clinical Case Studies in Culture Change
April 27, 2007, 1:00 p.m.
Medicare Learning Network: Learning resources and products for the healthcare professional.
Alzheimer’s Association Training Events
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Courses
Ohio Department of Health, Technical Assistance Program – New Programs
Ohio Health Care Association Events
An archive of The Nursing Home Weekly Update is available on our Web site. Click here >>
