Quality Improvement Projects in Health Care Problem Solving in the Workplace [Paperback]

This book provides a review of basic terminology and offers guidelines to the untrained researcher for carrying out `nuts-and-bolts' quality improvement research. Fourteen case studies involving actual health care situations help to demonstrate how such a research project can be implemented.This book provides a review of basic terminology and offers guidelines to the untrained researcher for carrying out `nuts-and-bolts' quality improvement research. Fourteen case studies involving actual health care situations help to demonstrate how such a research project can be implemented.PART ONE: BASIC CONCEPTS AND MANUAL
Basic Concepts
Does the Problem Really Exist?
Finding and Verifying Causes
Finding Solutions
Implementing Solutions and Making Them Operational
PART TWO: CASES
Getting Nursing Home Residents into Physical Therapy in a Timely Fashion
Patients Waiting for Radiation during Scheduled Visits
Late Notification of Critical Values by a Hospital Laboratory
Time Spent in Rehabilitation by Amputation Patients in a Municipal Hospital
Incomplete Laboratory Referrals in an HMO Center
HMO Patients' Problems with Crutches and Canes
Dealing with Hemolyzed Blood Samples in a Hospital Laboratory
Errors in Filling Prescriptions in a Hospital Pharmacy
A Labor-Management Health and Safety Committee
Nurse Attendance at Mandated Classes in an Outpatient Department
Compliance with Discussions and Documentation of Advance Directives in a Home Care Agency
Use of a Reminder Letter To Encourage Follow-Up Visits
Use of an Internal Audit in an Intermediate Care Facility
Use of Data on Unusual Occurrences in an Emergency Medical Service