Measuring the quality of care is essential to being able to identify which areas of patient care need improvement. A positive patient outcome is one measure of quality. What role do health care workers play in determining quality care?
What does your text say about the role of health care workers in determining quality care?
Since you're studying to be a health care worker, it's important that YOU answer this question, showing what YOU've learned.
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Healthcare workers had a big part in determining quality care. They are there to oversee, treat, diagnosis, support and advice the care of patients. Unfortunately a lot of healthcare worker do not give quality care. To them, it is just a job with a monthly paycheck. Although there are a few doctors and nurses who do quality care because they love to help and genuinely care for their patients. For some it is their way of doing something gratifying. To others it is an inconvenience but is what they were paid to do.
Base of what this student had learned so far in this class and while researching on many assignments regarding the healthcare systems, affordable, long-term care and quality care are always the first topic to be mention. This student believed that the first areas of patient care that required the most improvement would be the elderly. The second areas of patient care that need improvement are the middle class citizens and the poor citizens of each states. “Rather than paying less for health care, we should pay more wisely by encouraging providers to do more of what they should be doing and less of what is wasteful” (Cutler, 2006). This student believed that this statement make by David Cutler are somewhat questionable. He believed that compensating physicians for the quality of the services they perform can limit the incentives for overused care while increasing the incentives for prevention. David Cutler also stated that paying smarter for care by paying for performance rewards the provision of good care over bad care, and offers the potential for great improvements in the value of medical care, significantly better health outcomes, and perhaps lower spending. This student would agree that some of these statement made by Dr. David Cutler might be from the perspective of the provider in contrast to how they received reimbursement from third party payor and the government.
“From the perspective of someone receiving personal care services (PCS), the most basic quality issue is straightforward” (Kassner, 2006). Enid Kassner seem to think that while many factors influence the adequacy and stability of the workforce available for delivering PCS, growing evidence shows that the wages and benefits paid to personal care workers play a fundamental role in determining the quality and quantity of workers. This student believed that almost all of this statement is somewhat true in regarding to getting quality care. This student believed that this why the rich received the best care because they able to paid for the best care and the poor received minimum care only.
Health care workers play a crucial role in determining the quality of care provided to patients. They are the frontline providers who directly interact with patients and deliver treatment and services. Here's how health care workers contribute to measuring the quality of care:
1. Provision of Evidence-Based Care: Health care workers are responsible for delivering evidence-based care, which means following best practices and guidelines established by medical research and professional organizations. By adhering to these standards, they ensure that patients receive high-quality care based on the most up-to-date scientific knowledge.
2. Monitoring Patient Outcomes: Health care workers closely monitor patient outcomes to assess the effectiveness of treatment and intervention. They track important clinical indicators such as reduced pain, improved mobility, or successful surgical outcomes. By regularly evaluating these outcomes, health care workers can identify areas for improvement in patient care.
3. Patient Satisfaction Assessment: Health care workers gather feedback from patients to evaluate their satisfaction with the care provided. Through surveys, interviews, or patient experience committees, health care workers can gauge aspects like communication, empathy, and overall patient experience. Patient satisfaction is an essential measure of quality as it reflects how well care is being delivered from the patient's perspective.
4. Adherence to Safety Protocols: Health care workers are responsible for following strict safety protocols to prevent medical errors, infections, and other adverse events. They implement best practices such as hand hygiene, medication reconciliation, and proper use of personal protective equipment. These safety measures contribute directly to the quality of care and the well-being of patients.
5. Continuous Education and Improvement: Health care workers engage in ongoing professional development to stay updated with the latest advancements in their field. They participate in trainings, conferences, and workshops to enhance their knowledge and skills. By continuously learning and improving, health care workers contribute to delivering high-quality care based on the most current evidence.
Overall, health care workers have a direct impact on measuring and improving the quality of care through evidence-based practice, monitoring patient outcomes, assessing patient satisfaction, ensuring safety, and engaging in continuous education and improvement. Their knowledge, skills, and commitment to delivering the best possible care are essential in identifying areas that need improvement and providing superior patient care.