Common Challenges Most HCO's are Faced With When Working Towards Quality Improvement Initiatives.

In today’s health care environment health care organizations (HCO) face challenges such as regulatory or governing issues, patient needs, and technology issues. To enhance quality improvement initiatives organizations are relying on new methodology to enhance performance. However, the argument in today’s rapidly changing environment is will todays methods be irrelevant tomorrow? To adapt to change HCO’s are looking to data for guidance to help enhance current methods for tomorrows care (Strome, 2013).

Regulatory or government regulations are changing the way healthcare is delivered. From promoting accountable care organizations (ACO) to implementing different payment models. HCO’s are encouraged to deliver care in a way that they haven’t in the past. For example, bundled pricing methods. HCO’s have had to accept payment in full from contracted payers under new payment models. This encourages organizations to provide quality care at a lesser cost. By using data provided by clinical decision support systems to determine possible outcomes, and stretching resources such as patient navigation, HCO’s can deliver more affordable care. Moreover, organizations are looking at lean processes to improve quality of care. By searching for ways to utilize minimal resources and reduce waste. HCO’s can improve quality of care and improve barriers to healthcare (Strome, 2013).

Technology needs of the healthcare industry have also changed the way healthcare is delivered. As we can see, from using filing cabinets to store patient protected health information (PHI) to using data warehouses. HCO’s have had to invest in technology that best fits the needs of the organization as well as provides benefits to the patient. One major issue with technology is the abundance of data that we collect in multiple systems. In many cases hospital systems are duplicating efforts of collecting patient date. One solution that helps to improve quality initiatives of data management is implementation of Six Sigma. Organizations can benefit from this methodology, because it coincides with the lean methodology to reduce redundancies. However, the difference is six sigma utilizes actual data to improve performance. The primary concept is to improve quality while greatly reducing errors (Guinane, 2006).

As patient care continues to change and technology advancements continue to determine the way healthcare is delivered and data is provided. Incorporating lean and six sigma methodologies will aid organizations in quality improvement initiatives. Moreover, developing methods and strategic plans that align with organizational goals will aid stakeholders in providing them insight on the changing environment and the overall performance of the organization (Strome, 2013).

References:

Guinane, C. (2006). Interview with a quality leader: Mikel harry on six sigma in healthcare. Journal for Healthcare Quality, 28(4), pp. 29-36. Retrieved from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.proxy.cc.uic.edu/store/10.1111/j.1945-1474.2006.tb00618.x/asset/j.1945-1474.2006.tb00618.x.pdf;jsessionid=1960EB6431CABC461762A39C282C56ED.f03t02?v=1&t=j0a8cfxa&s=af2eb0d9134c17a0e9e57614fe3b977e7b38e199

Strome, T.L. (2013).Defining healthcare quality and value. Healthcare Analytics for Quality and Performance Improvement (pp. 51- 73). Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons Inc.