Author: admin

Topic: Clinical Micro-system Assessment
The purpose of this assignment is to provide an opportunity for students to develop an enhanced understanding of: (a) their respective clinical micro-systems using Nelson, Batalden, and Godfrey’s (2007) 5 P’s framework and (b) how to apply tools and methods that can be used to assess a clinical micro-system. Understanding the dimensions of your micro-system represented by the 5 P’s is a foundational first step toward identifying strengths as well as opportunities for quality and safety improvements.
The requirements for this assignment include (a) conducting an assessment of your clinical microsystem using the practice, unit or department profile form in the Dartmouth Clinical Microsystem Workbook you retrieved from www.clinicalmicrosystem.org as a guide only and (b) summarizing the results in an APA formatted paper. The profile form should be submitted with your paper in Canvas. It may be submitted as a separate document or as an Appendix to the paper.
1.Review the information on pages 258-266 in the Nelson text.
2.Review the information in the Microsystem Assessment Document. Pages 103-104 and 112 117
3.Using the practice, unit, or department profile form found in the Dartmouth workbook (these have also been posted in Canvas) for your microsystem/project as a guide, assess your clinical microsystem using the 5 P’s framework. It is understood that you may not be able to access metrics for many of the categories included in the form so informed estimates (based on the experience and observations of you and/or your colleagues) can be used. If there are categories for which no data is accessible or available, and an informed estimate is not possible, simply mark N/A in the relevant cell or cells on the table. The same applies to any categories that are not relevant to your microsystem.
4. It is not necessary to complete the exercises outlined in the profile form. Items vary among the microsystem workbooks. If you have any questions on this point, e-mail or call. Examples include:
5.- “Complete ‘Through the Eyes of Your Patients'”
6.- “Each staff member should complete the Personal Skills Assessment…”
7.- “Complete “Measures that Matter”
8.- “Complete the Core and Supporting Process Assessment Tool…”
9.- “Create flow charts of routine processes…”
10.Summarize the results of your assessment in an APA formatted paper using the outline found below. The maximum page limit for this assignment is three pages. Strive for conciseness and brevity.
11. Outline for the Clinical Microsystem Assessment Assignment Paper:
12. I. Title page
1.(Note that an abstract is not required for this assignment)
II. Introduction (introduce your topic and the purpose of your discussion)
III. Body of paper (main discussion; use these section headers or create your own; see “Levels of Heading” on page 62 of the APA manual if you need information on use of section headers)
– Purpose – Briefly describe your clinical microsystem (type) and practice setting (hospital, free-standing, etc.) and why the unit/practice/organization exists.
– Patients – Summarize key highlights or insights gained from the demographic, morbidity and other data you collected or projected for your patient population (include as much or as little detail as you like).
-Professionals – Summarize the results of the data collected in the “Know your Professionals” category. Include any thoughts or insights you have regarding the staffing patterns and mix in your microsystem and how it impacts service delivery.
– Patterns – Summarize the results of the information completed in this category.
– Patterns – Summarize the results of the information completed in this category.
Note: If you are using the NICU or Long Term Care Workbooks, you will need to modify/adapt your paper based on the unique content of those profiles. Again, if you have questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to call or e-mail.

Topic: QI and Patient Safety Infrastructure Assessment
The purpose of this assignment is to provide students with the opportunity to assess and become familiar with the quality and safety infrastructure within their respective healthcare organizations. Use the dedicated discussion forum in Blackboard for this assignment. Review these instructions and the evaluation criteria outlined in the grading rubric carefully before you begin to avoid unnecessary loss of points on this assignment. This assignment constitutes 5% of your grade for this course.
1. Review the quality and patient safety infrastructure checklist on page 2.
2. Conduct an assessment of the quality and safety infrastructure of your organization using the checklist as a guide. Note that an in-depth assessment is beyond the scope of this discussion board assignment and you may not be able to gather information in every category. You may want to start by scheduling time to talk with any designated QI/Safety coordinators in your agency, or the manager of your work area.
3. In an initial discussion board posting, describe (a) the type of setting where you work and (b) the results of your assessment by responding to at least four of the following questions or statements. You do not need to identify your organization by name—just setting type (e.g., hospital, emergency room, primary care, long term care, etc.).
o Is the organization accredited or certified by one or more quality-focused credentialing bodies (e.g., Joint Commission, ANCC/Magnet, NCQA). How does this impact the organization’s approach to quality and safety?
o Has the organization adopted one or more standardized approaches to QI (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, PDSA)? How is it implemented?
Standardized approach to quality/safety Has the organization adopted a standardized approach to QI (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, etc.)? Which one? How is it implemented?
Established quality and safety priorities Have these been established and communicated to staff? How? What projects or initiatives are in place to support achievement of these priorities?
Quality measurement system(s) How are quality and safety measured? What specific indicator measures are being used? Are standardized measures (e.g., HEDIS, CAHPS) used? Which ones?
Rewards and/or recognition programs What rewards or recognition programs or mechanisms are in place to promote and reinforce quality- and safety-related behaviors?